§ MR. O'GRADY (Leeds, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to cases of contracts for furniture for his Department in which the Fair Wages Clause has been evaded; whether he will see that the clause named will be rigidly enforced in future; and whether he will consider the advisability of publishing the names or title of the contracting firms before the contracts are finally signed.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI am informed that no complaints have recently been received as to wages paid under contracts for furniture. All complaints of the evasion of the Fair Wages Clause are at once investigated. It is not considered desirable to publish the names of contracting firms.
§ MR. O'GRADYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that much of the furniture manufactured for his Department is classed as sweated goods?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONNo sir.