HC Deb 17 August 1893 vol 16 cc433-5
MR. DARLING

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a speech delivered on the 1st August by Mr. Sidney Webb, of the London County Council, to the men employed in the Victualling Yard at Deptford; whether it is the fact, as alleged by Mr. Webb, that the Labour Department of the Board of Trade had made a Report to the Government as to wages and hours of labour in the various Government Departments in London; whether it is the fact, as alleged by Mr. Webb, that such Report showed— Such a state of starvation wages in the Government Departments, and wide difference between Government rates and the current rate actually being paid outside, that the Government had not dared to publish the Report"; and whether it is intended to publish such Report?

MR. MUNDELLA

The Report in question was prepared for the confidential information of a Committee of Her Majesty's Government. It is purely statistical; was never intended for publication; but was meant for the private use and guidance of the Departments concerned, who were represented on the Committee. The account of the Report referred to as given in the question is not accurate.

*MR. COHEN (Islington, E.)

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform the House how this document, which he says was intended for private and confidential circulation, came into the hands of Mr. Sidney Webb?

MR. MUNDELLA

I have never heard that it ever did come into his hands. I should very much doubt if he ever had possession of it.

*MR. DARLING

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Sidney Webb in his speech used the words quoted in the latter part of the question—namely, that such Report showed Such a state of starvation wages in the Government Departments, and wide difference between Government rates and the current rate actually being paid outside, that the Government had not dared to publish the Report"?

MR. MUNDELLA

There was no letterpress in the document; it was purely statistical. It was not of the nature suggested, and was prepared for use at a private meeting of the Cabinet.

MR. DARLING

Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to suggest that Mr. Sidney Webb did not see the Report from which he quoted?

MR. MUNDELLA

I made no such suggestion; but I should like to ask the hon. and learned Member—[Cries of "Order!"]—whether he means to say that Mr. Sidney Webb had a copy of the Report?

*MR. DARLING

I do not know Mr. Webb's means of information; I only saw his speech, which closed with the words — "The Government have not dared to publish the Report."

MR. MUNDELLA

The Government never intended to publish the Report. It was a purely confidential document.