Mr. T. F. RICHARDSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Fairfield Shipbuilding Company, of Govan, the London and Glasgow Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, of Govan, Messrs. John Brown and Company's Shipbuilding Company, of Clydebank, Messrs. W. Beardmore and Company's Shipbuilding Company, of Dalmuir, and Messrs. Yarrow and Company, of Scotstoun, pay the labourers in their employ 4½d. per hour; and whether, in view of these facts and of the fact that 4d. per hour only is paid by Scott's Shipbuilding Company, of Greenock, to their labourers, he will take steps to enforce the fair wage clause in this case?
§ Mr. McKENNAHaving regard to the relative geographical positions of the firm of Messrs. Scott and of the other firms named in the first part of the question, it has not been considered necessary to make any inquiry as to the comparative rates of pay of labourers employed by Messrs. Scott and by those other firms. The Fair Wages Clause enforces the payment of the rates current in the district, but does not enforce the same rate in different districts.