§ Captain Pluggeasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how the average wages paid at the present time in His Majesty's Dockyards compare with those paid in private shipyards in respect of approximately similar work; and how these figures compare with those for 1927 and the immediate pre-war period, respectively?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThe following are the time wage rates of shipwrights (representing the skilled trades) and labourers in His Majesty's Dockyards, and the principal shipbuilding centres on the 1st July, 1914, 31st December, 1927, and 1st June, 1937:
1st July, 1914. His Majesty's Dockyards. Principal Shipbuilding Centres. (For a 48 hour week.) (For a 53 or 54 hour week.) Shipwrights: 38s. a week 41s. 7d. a week Labourers: 23s. a week 23s. a week 31st December, 1927. (For a 47 hour week.) Shipwrights: 62s. a week 55s. 10½d. a week Labourers: 47s. a week 38s. 6d. a week 1st June, 1937. (For a 47 hour week.) Shipwrights: 65s. a week 64s. a week Labourers: 50s. a week 45s. a week An application for an increase in the pay of the skilled workmen in the Dock- 1986W yards is at present under consideration by the Shipbuilding Trades Council.