HC Deb 15 December 1902 vol 116 cc1205-6
MR. TALBOT () Oxford University

To ask the Secretary of State for War what measures are taken to insure that the Government contracts for military clothing are executed in factories and not by outworkers; whether prices paid to women for making khaki trousers and tunics at the Royal Army Clothing Factory have been reduced from 3s. 9d. and 1s. to 2s. 6d. and 7d. respectively; and whether he will give an assurance that what is known as sweating shall not be sanctioned in establishments under the control of the War Office.

(Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.)

The right hon. Member has been misinformed in regard to the figures quoted. No changes in price have been made since 1898, when that for a tunic was fixed at 3s. 1d. The price for trousers, 11 1 /8d., has not been altered. The contracts for making up clothing contain very strict clauses to prevent work being done at home, and to prevent sweating; frequent inspections of factories are made, and penalties are inflicted where firms are proved to have infringed the clauses.