§ MR. KEARLEY (Devonport)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that in consequence of the reductions made in November last in the piece work prices paid to riveters and drillers in Devonport Dockyard, that each week since such reductions several men have been unable to earn sufficient to cover their weekly wages, and in consequence have been checked sums ranging from 1s. to 10s. per week; and whether he will advise the Admiralty to at once revert to the scale previously in force, and to refund to each 'workman such sums as have been deducted, so that he may not suffer a loss caused by the present scale of remuneration?
§ *MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThis question is one that affects all the dockyards, and from Returns obtained it appears the reduction in the piece-work rates has operated in a different degree at the various 541 yards. The matter is one which has been inquired into by myself and the Secretary to the Admiralty when recently taking evidence front the workmen, and I would ask my hon. Friend not to press his question pending a decision being arrived at on the general questions connected with the pay of the workmen.