§ MR. SEDDON (Lancashire, Newton)To ask the Secretary of State for War, whether the War Office have entered into an arrangement with Harrods, Limited, to supply soldiers holding pensions as packers at 5s. per week wages; and whether he is aware that this firm a short time ago discharged over thirty packers earning 18s. per week and are now filling their places with soldiers at wages which make civilian labour impossible.
§ (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) Arrangements have been made with Messrs. Harrods for training as packers a few soldiers who are shortly completing their service with the colours, with a view to fitting them to obtain employment in civil life on passing to the Reserve. I am not aware that this arrangement has resulted in the discharge of skilled packers, but I am in communication with Messrs. Harrods on the subject. I need hardly add that we have no intention of allowing serving soldiers, under any scheme of technical instruction, to compete with civilians at wages below the market rate.