§ MR. W. T. WILSONTo ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the firm of Messrs. Peacock, of Wandsworth, who are supplying joinery work to the Greenwich Hospital estate and who are contractors to the Admiralty, employ a very large amount of boy labour, do a great deal of their work by the piece, which is contrary to the rules signed by the master carpenters and joiners of London and the operatives, and that the firm absolutely refuses to conform to the said rules; whether he will take steps to induce this firm to comply with the rules agreed to and signed by employers and employees; and, failing which, whether he will remove this firm from the list of Admiralty contractors.
(Answered by Mr. McKENNA.) The Admiralty have no information on the particular points mentioned in the hon. Member's Question. The contract with Messrs. Peacock contains the usual clause as to the payment of current wages, and no complaint of infringement has been made. If any specific complaint is made it will be investigated in the usual manner.