§ MR. J. WARD (Stoke-on-Trent)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to an arbitration award, dated 1899, fixing labourers' wages in the Ipswich district at a minimum of 5d. per hour; whether his attention has been called to the fact that the contractors for alterations at the Royal Artillery barracks are now paying labourers 3½d. and 4d. per hour; and that one of these labourers was recently threatened with dismissal for asking that he should be paid the trade union rate of 5d. per hour; and what action, if any, he proposes to take in the matter.
§ MR. HALDANEThe award of 1899 is no longer in force. The skilled labourers are paid the current rate of 4½d. per hour. Nothing is known in this Department of any labourer having been threatened with dismissal for asking for 5d. an hour.
§ MR. J. WARDThis is a matter in which I am personally interested. Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the award was abrogated and was notice given that it was to be altered in any way.
§ MR. HALDANEI believe it was abrogated some little time ago. I will inquire if the hon. Member will put another Question.
§ MR. J. WARDI will do so.