§ MR. W. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Messrs. Harrison and Sons, who are the contractors for printing the "Monthly Army List," have sublet the contract for printing the "Monthly Army List" to Messrs. Eyre and Spottiswoode, although it is imprinted: "Printed by Harrison and Sons, St. Martin's Lane;" and whether he has satisfied himself that the Government printers, Messrs. Eyre and Spottiswoode, do not pay Trades Union rate of wages?
§ SIR JOHN HIBBERTThe printing of the "Monthly Army List" forms part of the work provided for by the contract for general War Office printing, which was granted after competition to Messrs. Harrison in 1887—that is, before the passing of the House of Commons Resolution. This is one of the contracts which will expire in 1896, and will be inquired into by the proposed Committee. I am informed that Messrs. Harrison have handed over the work of printing the "Monthly Army List" to Messrs. Eyre and Spottiswoode, but that it is not a case of sub-letting in the ordinary sense, inasmuch as Messrs. Harrison pay over to Messrs. Eyre and Spottiswoode the whole of the receipts and retain no pecuniary interest themselves. Messrs. Eyre and Spottiswoode have two establishments, one worked under Trade Union rules and one not; but in the latter establishment they claim to pay rates of wages fully equal to the Trades Union scale.
§ SIR JOHN HIBBERTI understand that it is.