§ Mr. BARNESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the firm of Messrs. H. L. Anderson and Company, sub-contractors for painting work at the new torpedo factory, Greenock, are employing labourers at labourers' rates of wages to do work ordinarily done by painters at painters' rates; and whether he will take steps to have the terms of the Fair Wage Clause complied with?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe labourers referred to were employed scraping and cleaning the ironwork preparatory to painting; the sub-contractors are now, in fact, employing 575 painters to do this work. The sub-contractors are bound to observe the Fair Wages Clause, and no further action seems to be called for in the present instance.
§ Mr. BARNESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the work referred to is considered painters' work, and, having regard to that, will he take steps to see that the Fair Wages Clause adopted this Session is given effect to?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am not an expert in the quality of the work, but as the contractors say that painters are now being employed to do the work, there does not appear to be any occasion for further action.