§ 9. Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked whether the hon. Member's Department have any contract with the Hoffman Manufacturing Company, Limited, Chelmsford; and, if so, whether he will make inquiries into the wages and conditions of labour, in order to ascertain whether this firm are observing the Fair-Wages Clause in their contract?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Hoffman Manufacturing Company, Limited, of Chelmsford, hold no contract with the India Office at the present time.
§ Mr. BARNESIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this firm heads their notepaper "Contractors to the Admiralty, the War Office, and the India Office"?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThey have had contracts with the India Office, but the question was whether they have any contracts now, and they have not.
§ Mr. BARNESThat question was dated the 20th of March.
§ Mr. MONTAGUI have made inquiries since the question was put down, and they are not doing anything for the India Office at the moment.