§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the case which came before the Magistrate at the Westminster police court on 26th April in which a woman was charged with attempted suicide; whether he is aware that she was a tailoress working for a firm of Government contractors making police clothing; that her earnings by continuous work was something less than 1s. a day; that the price paid her for basting and finishing police trousers, involving four hours' needlework, was 3¾d. per pair; and whether he intends taking action to make the conditions of this contract conform to the terms of the fair wage clause?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Herbert Samuel)The Secretary of State has already explained in a printed answer, which was circulated with the Votes on Friday, that Messrs. Dolan and Company do not hold any Metropolitan Police contract, and that he has no power to supervise the terms of any contracts into which local authorities may enter for the supply of police clothing. The Metropolitan Police contracts contain the fair wages clause.
§ Mr. P. F. CURRANMay I ask whether contractors are not supposed to get permission before they are allowed to subcontract?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNeither the contractors nor the sub-contractor, if there was one, held a contract to do any work at all for the Metropolitan Police.