HC Deb 20 June 1893 vol 13 cc1462-3
MR. FORWOOD (Lancashire, Ormskirk)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will furnish a Return as regards both established and hired workmen, and classified as to trades similar to the Return of 20th March, 1891, giving the total number of men borne on the books in each trade in Her Majesty's Naval Establishments at home on the 1st April, 1893, and the number at each of the several rates of daily wages in the respective trades, excluding special rates; also how many men have been advanced in pay since April, 1892, under the Circular issued by the late Board of Admiralty, dated 27th June, 1891, in addition to the vacancies created in the ordinary way, of shipwrights, ship-fitters, and other trades, and how many advances have been made due to vacancies arising from deaths, superannuations, discharges, and promotions; have representations been received from the ship-fitters employed in Her Majesty's yards approving the scheme of classification issued by the late Board of Admiralty, and protesting against the employment of shipwrights on work that according to the custom of the trade is given to ship-fitters; and if any, and what, reply has been made to such representations?

* THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Sir U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH,) Lancashire, Clitheroe

The Return will be furnished, giving all the particulars requested by my right hon. Friend. In reply to the last two paragraphs, such representations as there stated have been raised, and are now being considered. No reply has been made.

MR. FORWOOD

Will the Return be in our hands before Monday?

* SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH

That will be quite impossible on account of some of the particulars asked for in the first paragraph. The collection of these must occupy some time. Some of the others I could give the right hon. Gentleman at once.

* MR. KEARLEY (Devonport)

Did I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that the ship-fitters approve of the system of classification introduced by the late Government?

* SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH

Yes, so far as they are concerned.

MR. KEARLEY

Are they not objecting to the limitation of it by the late Government. Were they not classified prior to the introduction of that scheme?

* SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH

The fitters and some other trades have long been classified. Some of their witnesses did object in their evidence to the limit in the higher classes.

MR. W. ALLAN (Gateshead)

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he has received any complaints from engine-fitters as to shipwrights doing engineers work?

* SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH

Some representations have been received, and are now under consideration.