§ SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the 1644 Limerick Clothing Factory is now in receipt of Government contracts; whether a contract for clothing for the Naval Reserve, granted to a Galway firm, has been sub-let by that firm to the Limerick factory; and whether, in connection with any complaint the Admiralty may receive, he will inquire into the circumstances under which the Clothing Factory has recently lost the municipal contract for Limerick in consequence of the adoption by the Corporation of the Fair Wage Clause, although the Factory tender was the lowest?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. W. G. E. MACARTNEY,) Antrim, S.The Limerick Clothing Factory holds no Admiralty contracts at present, and no application has been received from the contractor at Galway to sub-let his contract to the Limerick Factory.
§ SIR CHARLES DILKEThe hon. Gentleman is not then aware of the fact that this has actually been done?
§ MR. MACARTNEYCertainly not, Sir.