§ Mr. JOHN WARDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether Messrs. Scott and Company, of Greenock, are contractors for his Department; whether he is aware that the wages paid by this firm in their brass shops range from 4½d., 5d., 5½d., and 6d. per hour, while the rates paid by other firms in the Greenock district for the same kind of labour is 7d. and 7¾d. per hour; and whether he proposes to take any action to enforce the Fair-Wage Resolution of the House of Commons on this firm?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAInquiries have been made into the rates paid by the firm in question in their brass shops, but I have1988W not been able to identify some of the rates of pay mentioned by my hon. Friend, or the precise class of work to which he refers. The rates quoted by him do not appear to be quite accurate, either as regards brass dressers or brass finishers. The position as regards brass dressers remains the same as communicated to my hon. Friend on 9th April last, whilst the brass finishers receive rates of pay in excess of those mentioned by him. Judging therefore by the evidence before me, there does not appear to be any breach of the Fair-Wages Clause.