§ 92. Mr. BARNESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in connection with the strike of electrical workers on the Clyde, the action of the employers who are Government contractors in having the electrical work performed by apprentices instead of by fully-qualified men at the proper rates of wages is held by his Department to be no violation of the Fair-Wages Clause; and, if the Department have come to no decision on the point, will he have it considered, and also have an inquiry into the conditions prevailing at the present time in order to ensure that the Clause is not being violated, and that the Admiralty is not allowing an infraction to the benefit of the employers and the prejudice of the workmen?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)The complaint, which I informed my hon. Friend in my answer on the 27th November had been received at the Admiralty, refers to the subject in question. As I stated, inquiries are being made into the matter.