HC Deb 26 April 1898 vol 56 c1205
CAPTAIN NORTON

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state if the firm of Messrs. Siemens Brothers, electrical engineers, at Charlton, are now engaged on Government contracts; whether it has been brought to his notice that certain labourers (adult males) are being employed by the said firm at the rate of 4½d. per hour; and whether, seeing that this is below the current rate of wages in the locality, he will take steps to see that the Fair Wages Clause is carried out?

MR. HANBURY

The firm referred to are at present engaged on contracts for several Government Departments. So far as I have been able to ascertain, no complaints have been made to those Departments as to the wages paid by the contractors. Any such complaint, if made by the parties interested, would be duly inquired into.