§ MR. SHACKLETON (Lancashire, Clitheroe)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has satisfied himself that all the contractors, both inside and outside the United Kingdom, who have contracts with the Government for the Army boots are complying with the conditions of the Fair Wages Resolution passed by this House; and will he say what proportion of these orders were given inside and outside the United Kingdom for the years 1902 and 1903.
(Answered by Mr. Arnold-Forster.) All contracts made by the War Office for boots contain the usual clause stipulating that the wages paid shall be those generally accepted as current for competent workmen in the district where the work is carried out. There is no reason for supposing that this condition is not being complied with. With the exception of some local purchases made by the troops in South Africa and Somaliland, all orders for boots during 1902 and 1903 were placed in the United Kingdom. An arrangement was, however, made in 1901 with the India Office under which the latter Department agreed to supply the Army with 220,000 pairs of ankle boots. The reasons for this arrangement, which will shortly be completed, have already been explained in the House.