§ 71. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Secretary of State for Air whether Messrs. S. E. Saunders, Limited, Cowes, have a contract with his Department; whether the Fair Wages Clause has been placed in the contract; whether the firm are insisting that their workpeople should sign an undertaking not to belong to any trade union; if he is aware that the firm is not paying the recognised rates of the port with regard to apprentices on completion of their time; and if he will take action in the matter?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Lieut.-Colonel Sir Samuel Hoare)As regards the first two parts of the question, a contract has not yet been placed with Messrs. Saunders, but certain steps have been taken with a view to the placing of one, and any such contract will contain the usual Fair Wages Clause. As regards the third part of the question, the Air Ministry have no information as to the 39 firm's method of recruiting labour. As regards the fourth part of the question, investigation shows that the firm pay the full local rate of wages to both their skilled men and their apprentices, but that some question has arisen as regards the grade and pay of "improvers" between the ages of 21 and 22. As regards the last part of the question, the information appears to justify further investigation, and the matter is being take up with the firm.