§ MR. O'GRADY (Leeds, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the firm of Messrs. William Beardmore and Co., Government contractors, Glasgow, do not conform to the fair wages clause by not paying the recognised district rate to enginemen, cranemen, boilermen, and firemen in their employ, and that the firm have refused to consider a petition submitted by the men's society requesting recognition of their society; that men have been dismissed who through their union requested the observance of the district rates; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure the observance by this firm of the fair wages clause.
§ * MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe hon. Member's Question is the first intimation that the Admiralty have received that there was any complaint against the firm in regard to the observance of the fair wages clause. Immediate inquiry will be made.