§ MR. HERBERT WHITELEY (Ashton-under-Lyne)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware in connection with the carrying out of a painting contract at Ashton-tinder-Lyne Barracks in duly last the Ashton-under-Lyne and District Trades and Labour Council made complaint to the military authorities as to the employment of unskilled labour and the payment of less than the standard rate of wages for this district, and that the military authorities immediately ordered the dismissal of the men in question, and later on caused the work to be done again by skilled work-men paid the standard wages; and, seeing that the contractor admitted having acted contrary to the spirit and 540 intention of the House of Commons Resolution of 1891, can he explain why the authorities refused to exclude the offending contractors from tendering in future for Government work.
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Lord STANLEY,) Lancashire, WesthoughtonI am aware of the complaint mentioned. Provided a contractor pays the current rate of wages when warned, he is not held to be disqualified for future tendering; the circumstances, however, are noted against him.