§ MR. FENWICK (Northumberland, Wansbeck)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the firm of Thornycroft, Chiswick, who have obtained a contract from the Admiralty, have sub-let a portion of the contract to the firm of Ransome and Co., Battersea, who refuse to pay trade rates of wages; and what steps have been taken to ensure the observance of the Resolution of this House on 13th February, 1891?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingThe hon. Gentleman only put the question on the Notice Paper last night, and, therefore, I cannot answer it. With regard to the first part of the question which he 892 puts to me, Messrs. Thornycroft have contracted with the Admiralty for the building of a vessel. Their firm has a very high reputation for excellence of work; and, therefore, I think it unlikely that any portion of the contract should be sub-let to a firm that would not pay adequate wages. The Resolution passed on the 13th February, 1891, has been circulated to all the Admiralty contractors, and we have informed them that they are all expected to comply with it.
§ MR. FENWICKPerhaps it would be more convenient if I put the question down again for Thursday, in the hope that the noble Lord may have the opportunity of inquiring into the question of sub-letting, and the character of the firm to which this sub-contract is sub-let.
§ LORD G. HAMILTONYes, but I may inform the hon. Gentleman that in every shipbuilding contract there must necessarily be sub-letting. What the hon. Gentleman wants is information that tends to substantiate his statement. Of course I shall give him all the information in my power; but I must protest against the assumption that any employer of labour may be paying inadequate wages, unless the hon. Member shall have had an explanation from the employer, and heard his part of the case.