§ 43. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Munitions, whether he is aware that there are a number of engineering and boiler-maker firms who have a very large number of apprentices working at their establishments, and when they have completed their full number of years of apprenticeship the firms are refusing to pay such apprentices the full trade union rate of wages in accordance with the rules and regulations of the respective organisations; if he is aware that it is a violation of the trade union conditions agreed upon between the Government and the various craft unions; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?
§ Sir W. EVANSMy right hon. Friend is not aware that failure to pay apprentices who are just out of their time the full trade union rate of wages is a violation of any conditions agreed upon by the Government, unless such failure constitutes a change in the custom of a particular shop. The case of such apprentices is provided for by Section 5 of the Munitions of War Act, 1916, under which a munitions tribunal is bound to consider the question whether an apprentice desiring to leave his employment has recently -completed his term of apprenticeship and desires to obtain the full standard rate of wages applicable to a fully qualified workman in his trade.