HC Deb 09 November 1893 vol 18 cc536-7
MR. J. ROWLANDS (Finsbury, E.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Resolution adopted by the House on 13th February, 1891, re payment of fair wages on Government contracts, is held by the Government to mean the usual Trade Union rate of pay and conditions of employment in force in the locality in which any Government contract is executed; whether it is specified in all contracts that the eon-tractor shall expose in his workrooms the prices to be paid for labour, and if there is any penalty which can be imposed upon the contractor for non-compliance; whether his attention, or that of the Director of Contracts, has been called to the case of any contractor failing to expose in his workrooms the prices agreed to be paid to the workpeople; and have any penalties been inflicted?

* THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN,) Stirling, &c.

In answering a question on this subject, I can only speak of the practice of my own Department. The Resolution of the House of February 13, 1891, does not state that the Trade Union rate of pay is to be held as the current rate in the district in which a Government contract is executed, the Mover having, in fact, explained that the rates of wages to which he alluded were those accepted as fair by the workmen, but not necessarily the full amount desired by the Trade Union. It is in this sense that the Resolution has always been carried out in War Department contracts. As a rule, the contracts do not require the contractor to expose in his workrooms the prices to be paid for labour, as it is not intended to impose conditions or practices which are not the ordinary custom of the particular trade. The method adopted by the War Department for carrying out the Resolution is shown in the Parliamentary Paper No. 189 of Session 1892.

MR. J. ROWLANDS

I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in connection with his own Department, the late Director of Contracts did not state in his evidence before the Sweating Committee it was the custom to exhibit the prices for labour in workshops where the saddlery was made?

* MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

Yes, there is an exception in that case, because, as was stated in this House by the late Financial Secretary to the War Office, there are peculiar circumstances in that trade, but the condition was imposed antecedently to the Resolution of the House, and not, therefore, in consequence of it.

MR. J. ROWLANDS

Has the right hon. Gentleman received any complaints from that particular trade as to the failure to put up the prices in the workshops?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

No complaint has reached me.

MR. J. ROWLANDS

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will inquire of the Director of Contracts?

* MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

Certainly.