§ MR. KEIR HARDIEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the employment of women at 12 s. per week in the manufacture of sword bayonets by Messrs. Chapman, of Woodside Lane, Sheffield, in room of men who were receiving 35s. per week; and will he say what action he proposes taking in the matter.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Lord STANLEY, Lancashire, Westhoughton)In reply to inquiries Mr. J. A. Chapman states that most of the methods he is using are entirely new and different from those adopted by the few other makers of sword bayonets, in some cases rendering skilled labour absolutely unnecessary, and that in consequence he is employing four women; that the statement that he is paying 12s. to women for work previously done by men at 35s. is not correct; and that he is paying the same rate as other manufacturers, both for skilled and for unskilled labour.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEHave the terms of the contract been revised, or are Messrs. Chapman receiving the same prices while paying lower wages to women?
§ LORD STANLEYMessrs. Chapman are fulfilling all the conditions of the contract.