MR. FENWICKI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is true that the "triennial contract" for work, connected with the barracks and forts in the neighbourhood of Gosport, has recently been given to Mr. Barton of Ryde, Isle of Wight; whether he is aware that this gentleman refuses to pay his workmen "such wages as are generally accepted as current in the trade for competent workmen," as decided by a Resolution of this House on the 13th February, 1891; and whether such non-payment of "current wages" constitutes a breach of contract; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take to enforce the same?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEThe contract has been given to Mr. Barton, who pledged himself to pay current rates of wages, and I have not received any intimation that Mr. Barton has departed from his pledge.