§ 54. Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the Financial Secretary to, the Treasury whether, seeing that in tenders submitted to the Government it is laid down that the contractor for the goods shall pay rates of wages and observe hours of labour not less favourable than those commonly recognised by employers and trade societies in the trade or district where the work is carried out, this applies also to tenders accepted by the Government from foreign countries?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 13th November, 1930, to the hon. and gallant Member for Maidstone (Commander Bellairs).
§ Mr. SOMERVILLEDoes not this put an additional handicap on British manufacturers as against foreign manufacturers, especially in these very difficult times?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEThat is a matter of argument which I cannot answer in a Parliamentary question.