MR. OONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether, on the 3rd October last, the authorities at Devonport ordered the fire-brigade staff of the Key-ham and Devonport Yards to be continuously on duty; whether they have been thus on extra duty for five months past; whether they have as yet failed to get any remuneration for such extra duty; whether their arrears of time, as returned by the Chief of Departments to the Cashier's Office, amounted to 55 days; whether their pay is still running in arrear; whether the Admiral declines to sign the pay-sheet without special Admiralty sanction; and, whether he will inquire into the whole of the circumstances?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)It was considered desirable by the Admiral Superintendent to keep certain men in the Dockyard after working hours to meet fire emergencies, and the men so retained have been on extra duty for the last five months. There has been a delay in the payment of this extra duty pay, pending a settlement of fire arrangements which would be common to all the Dockyards, greater delay than was anticipated having occurred in completing the system; but the payment of the money due will soon be made.