HC Deb 11 January 1894 vol 20 cc1330-1
SIR J. GORST

I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether the attention of the First Lord of the Admiralty has been directed to the Resolution of this House of 6th March, 1893, in which it expressed its opinion that the conditions of labour in Her Majesty's dockyards should, as regards hours, be such as to afford an example to private employers throughout the country; whether it has been brought to the attention of the First Lord of the Admiralty that, in pursuance of the pledge given on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, the Secretary of State for War has recently announced the intention of the Government to reduce the hours of labour in the War Office establishments to 48 hours per week; whether, in consequence of the Resolution aforesaid, the First Lord of the Admiralty has taken into consideration the hours worked in Her Majesty's dockyards; and what is the conclusion at which he has arrived?

THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. E. ROBERTSON,) Dundee

I would refer my right hon. Friend to the reply I gave to his question on this subject on Monday last.

SIR J. GORST

Do I rightly understand that from the time when the Resolution was passed in March down to November or December Petitions were received from the dockyards, and that during the whole of that interval the First Lord of the Admiralty never considered the matter?

MR. E. ROBERTSON

No, certainly not; the right hon. Gentleman is to understand nothing of the kind.

SIR J. GORST

Then what was the result of the consideration which was given?

MR. E. ROBERTSON

The matter is now under consideration on the Petitions which were presented to the Admiralty. The First Lord is well aware of the terms of the Resolution of the House.

SIR J. GORST

Will the Government, in considering the men's Petitions, give full weight to the Resolution of the House?

MR. E. ROBERTSON

Undoubtedly, Sir.