§ 41. Mr. DAVID WILLIAMSasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, in a recent request from the War Office for tenders for a contract, a slip was attached expressing the desire of the Department that ordinary time only and not overtime should be worked in the execution of the contract, and that any increase in labour necessitated by the contract should be met by the employment of addi- 1263 tional hands; whether he will consider the desirability of all the spending Departments adopting the same practice; whether he is aware that the War Office, on occasions but not always, supplies to the trade union concerned a copy of the notices and instructions regarding stores and material issued to persons asked to tender; and whether this practice can also be followed by all the Departments in all cases?
§ Mr. COOPERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am making inquiries to ascertain to what extent there are differences between the practice of Departments in the matters referred to, and whether greater uniformity is practicable and desirable.