§ MR. REGINALD LUCAS (Portsmouth)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can arrange for a proportion of the men employed in His Majesty's gun wharves being granted established rank, with pension, as in the case of His Majesty's dockyards.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) Pension rights have been granted to principal foremen and others of corresponding rank in all sections of the Ordnance Department at home stations, and will shortly be granted to 35 per cent. of the foremen. As regards labourers and mechanics it is considered better, in the interests of efficiency and economy, to pay such rates of wages as are found necessary to secure the services of good workmen, without pension.