30. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is now able to state what decision has been come to with regard to the desirability, in view of the incidence of the National Insurance Act, of varying the contracts made by certain firms in Glasgow with the Office of Works before the Act was passed; whether the decision is still awaiting the result of arbitration in another similar case; whether he can say how long tills other case has been under arbitration; and whether, in view of the hardship to these firms and other Scottish contractors, he will take steps to secure an early decision?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Montagu)The award under the arbitration referred to has been given, but proves not to affect the general considerations upon which the Treasury found itself unable to sanction a variation of the terms of the contracts in the other ceases mentioned in the question. In the circumstances I must adhere to the decision not to reopen the terms of those contracts.
§ Mr. J. HOGGEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that a distinct promise was given from the Treasury Bench that this decision should wait upon this arbitration, and, on account of that, no further action was taken by these contractors; and does he not think it is unfair now to say that he refuses to reopen the matter when he put these men aside on that consideration?
§ Mr. MONTAGUWhat happened was this: The decision was arrived at provisionally. Before refusing to reopen the question the result of the arbitration was awaited. Now that we have found that the arbitration does not affect it, we propose to adhere to it.
§ Mr. J. HOGGEHas not the hon. Member's memory failed him, and were not the circumstances these: that it was not a question of the case being reopened but that the case was never closed.
§ Mr. MONTAGUIt was closed and the contract was made. My predecessor refused to give a definite answer as to the reopening of the question until after this arbitration had been decided.