§ MR. HENRY BROADHURST (Leicester)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office what means, if any, are taken to ensure that the fair wage condition is enforced on contractors for soldiers' clothing; and, whether any provision is made to prevent the evils of sub-contracting?
§ *THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. W. WOODALL,) HanleyIn all clothing contracts certain conditions are laid down to ensure compliance with the Resolution of the House of Commons as regards sub-letting and the payment of the current rate of wages. In addition to this, in the case of contracts for making up soldiers' clothing, further conditions have recently been added requiring that all wages shall be paid direct to the workers, and not through a foreman; also that the wages books of the firms employed, so far as the contract is concerned, shall be open to War Office inspection.
§ MR. HANBURYasked what means the War Office had of carry out the regulation?
§ *MR. WOODALLOn the receipt of any kind of complaint inspection is made, and the contractor is called to account. There is no difficulty at all.