§ MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether Messrs. Richards, Limited, Aberdeen, are on the list of contractors for this Department; whether he is aware that the wages earned by their women workers are in some cases, as low as 3s. 4d. per week, and the average for the firm is 7s. 6d. per week; that sixty of the women have been discharged for having joined a trade union, and have been told that they will only be reinstated on giving an undertaking to withdraw from the union; and what action he proposes taking in the matter.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONMessrs. Richards, Limited, are on the Admiralty list of contractors. No complaint has hitherto been received as to the rates of wages paid by this firm, but inquiries will be made.