§ Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the Ever Ready Company, Limited, who are Government contractors, have been in dispute with their engineers' labourers since April last, because the firm were paying their engineers' labourers 6½d. per hour plus a bonus on output that the men could earn; that under the engineers' agreement the engineers' labourer's rate is 8½d. per hour for a 47-hours week plus 17s. war wage; what rate of pay the firm are now paying their engineers' labourers; and whether, as the rates that the firm were paying before the dispute were a violation of the fair wages clause, and seeing that the firm refused to meet the men's representatives before the dispute with a view to getting the matter settled, he will now state what action he intends to take in the matter?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI would refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Member for the Consett Division of Durham (Mr. D. Adams) on 8th June. The unions concerned have, so far, not responded to the invitation to call at the War Office to discuss this matter.