§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTON (Tower Hamlets, Poplar)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has received communications from the London Building Trade Committee in reference to alleged subletting of contract work at the Albany Street Barracks and elsewhere, asking him to receive a deputation from the Committee on the subject at an early date; and what decision he has come to in the matter? I beg also to ask the hon. Gentleman whether any of the bricklaying work being done under contract at the Albany Street Barracks has been sub-let; whether the sub-contractor has been, and is, paying the recognised rate of wages to the men he employs; whether he is aware that sixty-one of the bricklayers employed by him have struck work because the sub-contractor declines to carry out the conditions of employment recognised by the trade; and whether the War Office will make inquiries into the matter?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe London Building Trade Committee have made an application to the Secretary of State in connection with work at Albany Street Barracks, and the facts are being investigated. I am afraid, as the notice only appeared on the Paper this morning, I must ask the hon. Member to allow time for an inquiry into the matter. As to receiving a deputation, I may say that before any decision is come to by the Secretary of State I wish to know what the facts are.