MR. J. LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, with regard to his undertaking in connection with Government contracts to take into consideration the enforcement of an eight-hours day, in addition to the payment of wages accepted as current in the trades concerned, it is the intention of the Government to enforce these conditions upon home contractors only, while leaving their foreign competitors free from such restraints?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT,) OldhamI gave no undertaking to the effect stated in the question, but I merely said that the Controller of the Stationery Office would give fair consideration to the conditions under which contractors employ their labour. I am not aware that any of the contracts made by Departments under the control of the Treasury are with foreign firms, but if such were the case I see no reason why foreign contractors should be placed at an advantage over contractors in this country.
MR. J. LOWTHERThe question of the eight-hours day will not enter into the consideration of the Government at all, then?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTIt will not be made a special condition, but it will be a consideration in giving out the contracts.