§ SIR G. BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty, in regard to the new Regulations for work and wages in the Government Dockyards, whether the Government has entered into an agreement, virtual or actual, that, in the case of day work rates, no person is to receive a less sum in wages for the reduced 48-hour week than was formerly paid for the 50 or 51-hour week; whether this standard of "what was formerly paid" is definitely adopted, as minimum rate of wages; and whether this standard is to be maintained without reference to the current rate of wages paid in such employments should that rate fall below this standard?
§ THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. E. ROBERTSON,) Dundee(1) The Admiralty Instructions issued in the dockyards are—
In the case of all men and women paid on day pay rates no person is to receive less money for working 48 hours per week than for working (as heretofore) a mean of 50⅓ and 51 hours respectively.(2.)The standard weekly wage formerly paid to each man before the 48-hours working week was introduced has been adopted as a minimum rate of wages. (3.) The standard of wages in the Government Dockyards is maintained at the same authorised rate, irrespective of any fall in the rate of wages in the private trade.