§ MR. HANBURYI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is the fact that the Admiralty has recently given out large orders for padlocks to a London firm, which sent the order for execution by sub-contractors in Staffordshire and elsewhere; whether the result was that the workpeople engaged received wages already 50 per cent. below the standard rate for similar work; and whether the Admiralty will consider the desirability of giving contracts in future direct to the actual manufacturers, and insert a clause in all such contracts requiring the payment of a fair trade wage?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHNo large order for padlocks has recently been given to a London firm; therefore no such order has been sub-let, as stated in the question. But about 11,000 padlocks were contracted for early in the year by a Willenhall manufacturer, and a complaint that the prices paid to the workmen were too low is now being investigated. All Admiralty contracts are now, and have been for some years past, given direct to actual manufacturers; and in the case of locks the competition is strictly confined to leading manufacturers in the lock-making district, and a clause requiring the payment of the rate of wages current in the district is inserted in all contracts.
§ MR. HANBURYHow came the wages not to be paid?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThat question has been already asked and answered. It has been pointed out that it is impossible to have the same security in the case of foreign firms that we have in England.