Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that joiners, cabinet-makers, pattern-makers, and other skilled workmen who provide their own tools and who are employed by firms in London manufacturing aeroplanes for the Government are being paid at the rate of 10d. per hour while the standard rate of wage for this class of workman is 1s. 0½d. per hour; whether he will give instructions that the standard rate of wage must be paid to these workmen; and, if not, whether he will give instructions that these workmen shall have their leaving certificates given them if applied for?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe proper procedure for dealing with the matters raised in this question is laid down in the Munitions of War Acts, and in this connection it is understood that the rate of wages of the workmen in question has recently been the subject of arbitration by the beard of Trade, who were unable to accept the contention that firms engaged upon aircraft manufacture should necessarily pay rates of wages that may be agreed upon for the building trades, where many of the conditions of employment are dissimilar, and they were of opinion that the claim for the payment of the minimum rate of wages now made by the unions has not been established.