§ MR. FORWOODI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if the, Departmental Committee inquiring into the system of classification of pay adopted in Her Majesty's Dockyards have yet reported; and, if so, will he lay the Report upon the Table of the House; and when will the Return giving the rates of pay, and number of men at each rate, and the number promoted on the 1st November from a lower to a higher rate of pay, be furnished to the House?
§ MR. E. ROBERTSONThe Report of the Committee alluded to is of a confidential nature, and it is not intended to make it public; but a statement of the decisions of the Board of Admiralty as to the future rates of wages, &c., will be laid upon the Table as soon as the necessary proceedings have been completed. (2.) The Return mentioned in the second paragraph of the question has been sent to the printers to-day.
§ MR. FORWOODWill the statement be laid on the Table before the Estimates are brought in?
§ MR. E. ROBERTSONI can hardly say that.
§ MR. FORWOODWell, I shall object to the Vote for shipbuilding until we have the Report.
§ MR. E. ROBERTSONThe right hon. Gentleman need be under no apprehension. The statement will be made public cither before or at the time the Vote is brought on.