HC Deb 13 July 1904 vol 137 c1475
MR. CHAELES HOBHOUSE

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will make inquiry into the alleged discharge by Messrs. Lysaght, of Bristol, Government contractors, of workmen, on account of their membership of a trade union, during the continuance of a running contract; whether, if this be so, it is a violation of the pledge given by Sir John Hibbert and the hon. Member for Poplar, on behalf of the Government, on 3rd August, 1893, in interpretation of the Fair Wages Resolution.

THE FINANCIAL SECEETAEY TO THE WAE OFFICE (Mr. BROMLEY DAVENPORT,) Cheshire, Macclesfield

Inasmuch as no instructions were issued to the War Office consequent upon the debate referred to, it would appear that the promise then given was not intended to apply to the War Department. The Department, however, does not recognise nor approve of any preference for or against trades unionists as such, and I am willing to agree that measures shall be taken to prevent contractors engaged upon War Office work from dismissing men solely for the reason that they are or are not members of a trade union.