§ MR. WOODS (Lancashire, S.E., Ince)I bog to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether Messrs. Thorny croft, of Chiswick, torpedo boat builders, have frequent contracts with Her Majesty's Government; if he is aware that at those works systematic overtime is being worked; and whether the Government will cause a clause to be inserted in all future contracts, restricting the hours of labour to the number now being worked in the Government works, as a condition of accepting their contracts?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHMessrs. Thorny croft have frequently contracted for the Admiralty. I am told that some overtime has recently been going on at their works. No proposal to impose a condition as to hours of labour in Admiralty contracts has been before the Government.