MR. FIELDI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether it is a fact that the Board of Trade have given their sanction to the Appledore contract; whether he is aware that formerly the work was looked after by a Board of Trade Surveyor, but since the recent appointment of a London foreman shipwright the surveying is not closely watched; whether supervision is now used to see that the work is properly done; and whether the names and amounts of the various tenders will be supplied when the contracts are finished as agreed upon with respect to certain Admiralty contracts?
§ MR. BRYCEThe statutory sanction of the Board of Trade has been given to the Appledore contract accepted by the Commissioners of Irish Lights. The Commissioners formerly obtained the services of the surveyors of the Board of Trade to superintend the repairs of their light vessels, but this work is now done by their own foreman shipwright under the direction of their Inspector of Lights. They inform me that the superintendence is done in a most thorough manner, and that the strictest supervision is exercised. The names of the firms tendering and the amounts of the tenders invited by General Lighthouse Authorities who are not Government Departments have not been heretofore laid before Parliament, and I am advised that in the absence of statutory authority I cannot require this to be done.
MR. FIELDWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire if the Fair Wages Resolution is enforced in the matter of this contract?
§ MR. BRYCEThe Board of Trade did communicate with the Commissioners of Irish Lights on the question, and they required that they did not feel bound to make any inquiries on the subject.
MR. FIELDAm I to understand the Board of Trade are in favour of sending Irish work over to England?
§ MR. BRYCEThe hon. Member must certainly understand nothing of the kind. The fact is, we have nothing to 1584 do with the acceptance of these contracts. I can do nothing further than exercise a purely financial control.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.E.)Is the Irish Board responsible to no authority in this House for failing to carry out the Fair Wages Resolution?
§ MR. BRYCEI think not. It is not a Government Department. It considers it is not bound by the Resolution of the House.
MR. FIELDWill the Board of Trade, in conjunction with the Chief Secretary, endeavour to reform the constitution of the Board?
§ MR. BRYCEAs my right hon. Friend stated the other day, that matter is engaging the attention of Irish Office and of the Board of Trade.
§ MR. W. JOHNSTONDoes the right hon. Gentleman intend to use coercion in the matter?
§ [No answer was given.]