§ Mr. CROOKSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if he will state the terms of the Fair-Wage Clauses inserted in Government contracts?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe terms of the Fair Wages Clause, Clause 8 (a), in the General Conditions of Contract are as follows:
8 (a) Fair Wages, Transfer of Contract, and Sub-letting.—The contractor shall, in the execution of this contract, observe and fulfil the obligations upon contractors specified in the Resolution passed by the House of Commons on the 10th March, 1909, namely:
The contractor shall … 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. Where there are no such wages and hours prevailing, in the district, those recognised or prevailing in the nearest district in which the general industrial circumstances are similar shall be adopted. Further, conditions of employment generally accepted in the district in the trade concerned shall be taken into account in considering how far the terms of the Fair-Wages Clauses are being observed. The contractor shall be prohibited from transferring or assigning, directly or indirectly, to any person or persons whatever, any portion of his contract without the written permission of the Department. Subletting, other than that which may be customary in the trade concerned, shall be prohibited. The contractor shall be responsible for the observance of the Fair-Wages' Clauses by the sub-contractor.