§ MR. BRAMSDON (Portsmouth)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in consequence of the fact that the labourers regard as unsatisfactory the wages paid to them by the contractors for the new lock at Portsmouth, and with a view to prevent similar questions arising hereafter, both to that class and to other trades, their Lordships can see their way clear to schedule in their future contracts the rates to be payable to the various trades, after conferring as far as is practicable with the representatives of the employers and the men as to what is the fair rate of wages, respectively, current in the neighbourhood.
§ MR. MCKENNAAll contractors are bound by the Fair Wages Clause in the contract, based on the Resolution of the House of Commons. This has been found to work satisfactorily, and after careful consideration the Admiralty think it would be inexpedient to adopt the suggestion of my hon. friend.