§ MR. JOHN WARD (Stoke-on-Trent)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in the proposed contract for dock construction at Rosyth, it is intended to include a clause providing machinery for the settlement of disputes which may occur between the workmen and the contractors as to the wages paid or the working conditions imposed during construction, with a view to prevent possible delays in its completion.
§ MR. MCKENNAThe Board have had the matter under careful consideration. As at present advised, we do not think it practicable to incorporate in works contracts special machinery for the settlement of labour disputes. The past experience of contracts for works, over 410 many years, has been that no case of serious labour trouble has been brought to the notice of the Admiralty by either the contractor or representatives of the men. While the Board are very glad to hear representations on the subject from my hon. friend, we do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by formulating provisions other than those already defined by Act of Parliament.