§ Mr. RENNIE SMITHasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, the name of the company to which the contract for the erection of the new Embassy building in Washington has been given; whether the firm in question submitted the lowest tender; if not, will he state the reason for giving them the contract; and whether he can give any assurance that the work will be done 1010W by competent workmen at rates of wages and on conditions of service acceptable to the American building trade unions?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONThe main contract for the new Washington Embassy has been awarded to the Wardman Construction Company, whose tender was the lowest. The wages and hours of labour, as set out in the contract, are those generally accepted in the district. There is no reason to assume that the workmen employed will not be fully competent.