§ MR. W. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the labourers working at the building of a new fort at Dunree, Lough Swilly, County Donegal, are only receiving 12s. per week, while the wages for the same class of labour is from 18s. to 20s. per week in England and Scotland; and whether he will order the same rate of wages to be paid in Ireland?
§ *MR. WOODALLThe War Department requires its contractors to pay the rate of wages current for similar work in the locality, and I am informed that the current rate for labourers at Dunree is 10s. to 12s. weekly.
§ MR. FIELDAm I to understand the answer to mean that 12s. a week in Ireland is looked upon as equivalent to 20s. a week in England?
§ *MR. WOODALLOf course, the cost of living and the rate of wages vary in different parts of the country, and the House of Commons Resolution of 1891 is strictly enforced in all such contracts as the one in question.