§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state whether the recommendation to grant an increase of wages to the labourers employed in certain Government establishments, as embodied in the Report presented by the Advisory Board appointed in the early part of last year, will apply to labourers employed at the Deptford Victualling Yard and the West India Docks Naval Stores Depot?
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§ Mr. McKENNAThe Inter-Departmental Committee appointed in June, 1909, to advise Government Departments desiring information on the payment of fair wages, were consulted last summer with regard to the wages paid to ordinary labourers by good employers in the localities referred to by my hon. Friend. The Committee's report on this matter was recently presented and is now under consideration. It is hoped that an announcement can shortly be made on any changes in the rates for Government labourers in the London district, which would be justified by the rates current among good private employers for similar work.