Mr. SHIRLEY BENNasked the Secretary for War whether, in accordance with the Resolution passed by this House on l0th March, 1909, a notice is exhibited in the workshops of the War Department in Plymouth and the neighbourhood to the effect that the Government will pay rates of wages and observe hours of labour not less favourable than those commonly recognised by employers and trade societies, or, in the absence of such recognised wages and hours, those which in practice prevail amongst good employers in the trade in the district where the work is carried out; whether the masters in the building trade conceded an extra halfpenny on 1st May last, making the pay 8½d. per hour, with the promise of an extra halfpenny in six months, and that plumbers received a full increase of ld. on 1st May last, making their pay 9d. per hour; and whether, in these circumstances, he will take steps to give effect to the Resolution passed by this House?
§ Mr. HAROLD BAKERThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part of the question, I understand that an increase of a halfpenny per hour has been made in the rates of wages of certain1368W classes in the building trade at Plymouth from the 1st May, and for plumbers from 17th May. The wages of those War Department employés in the district who are affected by these changes are being reviewed. I have no information regarding the other promised increases mentioned in the question.