§ Mr. MATHERSasked the First Commissioner of Works whether arrangements have been made to employ directly by His Majesty's Office of Works those tradesmen in Edinburgh who are fully employed in the work of his Department but have been engaged previously through contractors, or whether other arrangements have been made to put those workers on the same footing as other State employés who are given an annual holiday with pay?
§ Mr. LANSBURYThe question of substituting direct labour in place of the present contract system is under consideration by the chief officers of the Department. If it is finally decided to change the system some time will necessarily elapse before the change can take place. The grant of holidays with pay cannot be arranged under the contract system, as I am satisfied that it would be improper to call upon contractors to grant such holidays unless it is the general practice of good employers in the trade concerned to do so.