§ 15. Mr. CROOKSasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the firm of Manifoldia, Limited, West Bromwich, hold any contracts from the Stationery Office; if so, whether he is aware that girls employed by the firm have come out on strike against the low wages paid, the highest amount paid to any one of them being 13s. 6d. for a week of fifty-two hours; that young girls are also employed at rates ranging from 3s. to 5s. a week; that the rates for girls and women employed on the same class of work, as fixed by the employers and the trade unions by agreement, are from 4s. 6d. to 15s. per week of fifty-one hours; and whether he will take steps to enforce the provisions of the Fair-Wages Clause in this ease?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe firm does not hold any of the running contracts of the Stationery Office. It has lately been given one small order, on a statement that it paid the standard rates of wages and worked the district number of hours. Inquiry will be made into the wages paid to women.