§ 56. Mr. DEVLINasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to state the result of his inquiries as to whether textile firms in Belfast engaged upon Government work are, or are not, paying wages in accordance with the terms of the Fair-Wage Resolutions; and whether the Board of Trade have yet decided to apply the provisions of the Trades Board Act to the textile industries in Belfast?
Mr. ROBERTSAny question of breach of the Fair-Wages Resolution is one in the first instance for the contracting Department, and not the Board of Trade. 860 No inquiries into this matter are being made by the Board of Trade, but the Chief Industrial Commissioner is in correspondence with the Flax Spinners' Association, Belfast, with reference to the workpeople's application for an advance of wages. The whole question of extending the operation of the Trades Board Act is still under consideration, and I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the matter, beyond repeating that the position of the linen industry in Belfast will be borne in mind. As my hon. Friend has already been informed, legislation would be required before any extension of the Act could be made.