§ MR. STEADMANI beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether it is a fact that, in the Royal Laboratory at Woolwich, stokers who are working a night and day shift, should one be late in starting, he is stopped his time, while the man who does the work gets no extra pay?
§ MR. BRODRICKWhen a stoker fails to attend at starting time the one who should be relieved remains on duty till the foreman can arrange for his relief. By an arrangement which has been in force since 1893, stokers are paid on a consolidated weekly rating which, in the Royal Laboratory, is fixed so as to cover any occasional extra, attendance. When the contingency thus provided for does not arise the stoker is a gainer by the arrangement. The stoker who does not attend loses pay for the time he is absent.
§ MR. STEADMANMay I ask if the stoker who does the work when the other stoker is absent from duty gets paid?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe stoker who performs the work has already been paid by the extra rating, while he who does not do it obviously has no claim to it.
§ MR. STEADMANWhat extra pay does the stoker receive for working what practically is overtime?
§ MR. BRODRICKIf the honourable Member will put down the question I will endeavour to get the information.