§ MR. JAMES ROWLANDS) (Finsbury, E.I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether the existing contracts for decorating and painting the House of Commons and public offices will shortly terminate: and whether in the new contracts he will stipulate with the contractors that they shall pay a standard rate of wages to the workmen in the particular trades?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. PLUNKET,) Dublin UniversityThe general contract in which the decorating and painting of the House of Commons is included will terminate next year. A Departmental Committee is now sitting to inquire into the question of the terms' upon which new contracts for such services shall be made.