§ 161. Mr. CLYNESasked the Secretary of Stale for War whether his Department has any contract at present running with employers involved in the hollow-ware trade disputes in Stafford shire; and, if so, whether he can inquire into the low wages paid in the trade and apply the Fair-Wages Clause in a manner which will raise the existing rates of pay?
§ Colonel SEELYI have no official information regarding this dispute, but it appears to involve the hollow-ware trade of the district generally and to have no special reference to Army contracts. I am afraid that no useful result would be likely to follow from the intervention of the War Office at the present juncture.
§ Mr. CLYNESasked the Home Secretary if, in view of the continuance of the dispute due to low rates of wages in the hollow-ware trade in Staffordshire, whether he can take steps to immediately extend the scope of the Trade Boards Act to these trades and confirm any Provisional Order for this purpose by a Bill this Session?
Mr. ROBERTSONAs my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member on 12th November, he proposes to consider at an early date the desirability of a cautious extension of the scope of the Trade Boards Act, when the case of the hollow-ware trade will receive careful consideration. I can add nothing to that statement at present.