HC Deb 11 February 1898 vol 53 cc360-1
MR. E. ROBERTSON (Dundee)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether "notices in writing," under the strike clause, has been received from contractors whose work has been delayed by the lock-out in the engineering trade; and, if so, whether he can conveniently give the names of the contractors from whom such notices have been received?

THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. MACARTNEY,) Antrim, South

Notices in writing of the cessation of work at their respective establishments have been received from several of the contractors. I am not prepared to give the names.

MR. ROBERTSON

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he can now say if the Admiralty, in dealing with their notices, have decided whether the lockout notices are to be put on the same footing as the strike notices, under the strike clause?

MR. MACARTNEY

These notices have been received. No action has been taken in relation to them.

MR. ROBERTSON

Has the Admiralty, in dealing with their notices, decided as to whether the lock-out notices are to be placed on the same footing as the strike notices under the strike clause?

MR. MACARTNEY

I think the hon. Gentleman had better put this question to the First Lord; but I may say that the Admiralty are not in the habit of considering questions until the necessity arises.

MR. ROBERTSON

I will put the question on Monday.

MR. J. LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)

Might I ask my hon. Friend whether he has heard that 75 per cent. of the men employed were idle through the strike, while through the lock-out it was 25 per cent.?

MR. MACARTNEY

I think my hon. Friend is correct. The amount was 25 per cent.