§ MR. KEARLEY (Devonport)I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that, in the torpedo shop at Devonport especially, overtime is being systematically worked by fitters 1205 and others, and that such has existed for the past 18 mouths and must continue unless au extension in the workshop is made and more men employed; and whether the Admiralty will consider the immediate necessity of terminating overtime and fit up the space in the torpedo shop at present occupied by stores, so that the surplusage of work in hand may be not only distributed amongst a greater number of men, but executed within the recognised limits of the ordinary working day?
§ THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. E. ROBERTSON,) Dundee(1.) It has been necessary to work a certain amount of overtime in the torpedo shop at Keyham in order to prevent delay in the completion of ships building under the Naval Defence Act, and of torpedo boats and destroyers building by contract. (2.) Additional men have recently been entered at Devonport, and it is hoped the necessity for working overtime will shortly cease. (3.) The question of removing the stores and fitting up the remaining space in the torpedo shop will be considered later in the year with the general works proposals from Devonport.