§ MR. TREVELYAN (Yorkshire, W.R., Elland)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the practice of other Government Departments, in cases of dispute in reference to the current rate and condition of employment, and whether a particular contractor is or is not carrying out the terms of the fair wages clause, to refer to the Labour Department of the Board of Trade for inquiry and report.
§ (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The Labour Department of the Board of Trade is frequently consulted by other Departments as regards current rate of wages or conditions in particular trades or localities, but a question whether a particular contractor is or is not carrying out the terms of the fair wages clause is and must always remain a matter for the decision of the Department directly concerned with the contract.