§ 37 and 38. Mr. MACLEANasked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) whether the fair wage clause is being observed by all firms doing Government work; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made of the employers and the trade unions in the shipbuilding trade;
(2) whether he is aware that shipbuilding yards doing Government work are using a larger percentage of apprentices than formerly on this class of work; that apprentices in their last year of apprenticeship are being put to work formerly done by journeymen, and receiving a few shillings only above the 498 apprenticeship rate; and whether, as this is an evasion of the fair wages clause as well as keeping journeymen out of employment, he will cause inquiry to be made at the shipbuilding firms and the trade unions in this class of work?
Sir B. EYRES MONSELLI have no information that there has been any breach of the fair wage clause, either in connection with the employment of apprentices or in any other respect, by any shipbuilder holding Admiralty contracts, but if the hon. Member will furnish details, I shall be glad to cause inquiries to be made.