§ Mr. BARNESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of a dispute in progress between Messrs. Beardmore, the Fairfield Shipbuilding Company, and Messrs. John Brown and Company, and the electricians in their employment; whether he is aware that the electrical work on His Majesty's ship "Conqueror," His Majesty's ship "New Zealand," His Majesty's ship "Southampton," and His Majesty's ship "Agasta," is being either inefficiently done by apprentices or neglected altogether; is the Admiralty passing the electrical work that has been or is being done on these ships, or what action is it taking; and whether he will inquire as to whether the employers are observing the Fair-Wages Clause in their methods of dealing with the dispute?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe Admiralty is aware of the existence of the disputes referred to, but except in one case no definite complaint in regard to the Fair-Wages Clause has been received at the Admiralty. Inquiries are being made into the circumstances of that case. My hon. Friend may rest assured that none but satisfactory work will be accepted for His Majesty's ships.