§ Sir W. EDGEasked the Minister of Health whether his Department will consider the issue of a circular to local authorities suggesting that where they have a rule specifying that contractors must pay trade union or approved wages they should ascertain in air cases that foreign firms tendering either successfully or unsuccessfully observe the same conditions as apply to their British competitors?
1130W
§ Sir K. WOODI have reason to believe that a fair wages clause is almost universal in the contracts of local authorities and would normally be included in a contract with a foreign firm. Enforcement of the clause must, of necessity, be more difficult in the case of a foreign firm and the best course which has been frequently urged upon local authorities is to obtain supplies so far as possible from British sources.