§ 77. Mr. PETOasked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that the National Conciliation Board, consisting of employers and operatives, gave a decision in May, 1916, as to the War bonus to be paid in the building trade for the duration of the War and nine months after; that contracts with his Department were entered into on this basis, and that subsequently, on 14th May last, the Government arbitrator granted a second war bonus to be paid in addition to the war bonus settled by the National Conciliation Board; and whether his Department will take these circumstances into consideration and grant a proportionate increase in the contract price of contracts entered into subsequent to May, 1916?
§ Sir WORTHINGTON EVANSWhile the award of 14th May, 1917, cannot in itself be regarded as sufficient to justify, apart from other considerations, an increase in contract price in respect of contracts entered into by the Ministry, my right hon. Friend is prepared to consider claims from contractors, on termination of contracts, if the contractors can prove that, as an effect of the award, they have been deprived of reasonable profit on the contracts in question.