Captain MURRAYasked the Undersecretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to give the House any further information regarding the allegation that Messrs. Guest, Keen, and Nettlefold are not paying fair wages to moulders employed on making sleepers for Indian State railways?
§ Mr. MONTAGUAs I informed the junior Member for Merthyr on Monday week, no order for sleepers has been 182 placed by the Secretary of State for India with Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettlefold; in fact no sleepers, iron or steel, have been supplied by this or any other firm for Indian State Railways for many years, if they ever were at all, as wooden sleepers are used. I may add that the junior Member for Merthyr acknowledged that his information was incorrect when he withdrew his question on the subject on Thursday last.
§ Mr. MONTAGUNo; the same reply would not be given with regard to rails because we have rails on order. With regard to wages the Secretary of State has sent to the Director-General for a report.
§ Mr. EDGAR JONESThen, I take it, we shall be able to raise the question with regard to rails. My question was about rails and not about sleepers?
§ Mr. MONTAGUYes; I promised to give the House information as soon as the Director-General reported.
§ Mr. CLYNESWill it relate to labourers as well?
§ Mr. MONTAGUYes; labourers only are employed at this work in the making of railways.