§ MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether a contract for hair brooms was recently given to Mr. A. Smith of Stratford, Essex; whether, in accordance with the Resolution adopted by the last Parliament, such contract was entered into upon the condition that the trade union rate of wages should be paid by the contractor; whether Mr. Smith is fulfilling such conditions and paying the rate of wages agreed to by the employers and employed in the brush-making trade in 1872; and whether the sanitary conditions of the premises in which Mr. Smith's employés are engaged are approved by the Factory Inspector of the district?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANMr. Smith's contract contains the usual clause binding him to pay the rate of wages current for such work in the locality. The War Office is not at present aware how far Mr. Smith is fulfilling these conditions, but a complaint was received on the 18th instant from the Brushmakers' Union to the effect that he is not paying proper wages. Inquiry on the point will be made. The Inspection of Factories is under the Home Office.
§ MR. CREMERHas the attention of the Home Office been called to the sanitary condition of this factory?
§ MR. ASQUITHNo, Sir.