§ 83. Mr. WIGNALLasked the Minister of Labour whether the workpeople employed at the Quedgley factory, Gloucester, wore paid upon conditions following the awards and agreements for the chemical trade; whether application was made for the last increase accorded to this trade to the representative in charge of the factory in June, 1920; whether the War Office had instructed their Department, without communicating to the workpeople, not to pay in accordance with such decisions, as had hitherto been the practice; whether he was communicated with by the workpeople's 925 representative on 16th October; whether the War Office was communicated with by the Ministry of Labour on the 19th October; whether the Ministry of Labour again made an effort to get a reply on the 11th November; whether he is aware that no reply has yet been received by the workpeople or their representative; and whether he will now take steps to secure the payment of the amounts due to the workpeople in this factory in accordance with the agreement arrived at with the Department to pay the wages to the workpeople in this factory in accordance with the chemical trade decisions?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI have been asked to reply to this question, which is understood to relate to workmen of the Royal Army Ordnance Depot. On the information before the Department these workmen would not appear to be employed under conditions requiring the Department to observe the awards and agreements of the chemical trade, whatever may have been the position when the Quedgley factory as a whole was a productive unit. Further inquiries upon certain aspects of the matter are in progress, in view of a recent application from the Dock, Wharf, Riverside, and General Workers' Union.
§ Mr. WIGNALLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that up to June of last year all the awards for the chemical trade were applied to these men, and why has there been a change in the conduct of the management towards the men since June in not acknowledging their applications?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI am not able to answer that question without notice. If he will give me notice I will ascertain. There has, no doubt, been a change.