Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the work of altering premises at Horwich, Lancashire, for a Labour Exchange was let by contract; if so, whether local builders were invited to tender; whether the lowest tender was accepted; and what was the difference between the tender accepted and the lowest tender given by a local firm?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENNSix firms were invited to tender for this work, of whom four were Horwich firms. The lowest tender, that of a Chorley firm, was accepted. A Horwich firm was second on the list with a price nearly 150 per cent. higher than the lowest tender.
Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the hon. Member if he is aware that the contractor who carries out the repairs and alterations at the Galashiels Post Office is paying the joiners in his employ from 2s. to 4s. per week less than the recognised wage in the district; and whether he will take steps to enforce the provisions of the Fair-Wages Clause in this case, or transfer the work to a firm that observes the Clause?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENNThere is no work going on at present at the Galashiels Post Office, but the contractor who is usually employed pays the rate of wages current in the district, in some cases even a higher rate.