I beg to ask the Prime Minister, in view of some firms which have contracts with the Government declining to treat with the accredited representatives of workmen and making non-membership of trade unions a condition of employment, whether the Committee appointed to consider the working of the Fair Wages Resolution of the House will be asked to deal also with the need for amending the terms of the Resolution; and whether the necessity of representation on the Committee of workmen's organisations has been considered.

The Committee has been instructed to report whether any changes are desirable in the administration of the Fair Wages Resolution in order to enable its objects to be more effectually attained. It is not intended to amend the terms of the Resolution or enlarge its scope. In these circumstances it did not appear necessary to invite representatives of workmen's organisations to be members of the Committee. They will, of course, have every opportunity of placing their views before the Committee.

asked whether, seeing that the Committee would have to deal with the complaints of workmen, it was not better it should have on it accredited representatives of workmen's organisations.

replied that it was a purely inter-departmental Committee, and there was no place on it for outsiders of any kind.