§ MR. JOYCE (Limerick)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the contract for the painting of the military barracks at Limerick has been entered into, and, if so, will he state the contractor's name and what wages per hour, day, or week he is paying his men; have any of the local men been employed; and will the military authorities see that only the ordinary working hours of the district be observed, that no overtime will be allowed, and that no work will be permitted on Sundays.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The painting at Limerick Barracks is being executed by Messrs. Arundel. So 226 far as can be ascertained, they are paying the current rates of wages. The contract imposes no conditions as to the source from which the employees are to be drawn, but the firm are believed to employ local labour to some extent. No Sunday work is done, but a certain amount of overtime is necessary, as the barracks are in occupation and the completion of the painting of rooms cannot be delayed. If my lion, friend will furnish me with any specific complaint that the conditions of the contract are not complied with they will be immediately investigated.