HC Deb 06 December 1906 vol 166 cc1167-8
MR. JENKINS (Chatham)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether an order has been issued to close the whole of the Home dockyards on 24th December; and, if so, whether he will allow the workmen to make up the loss by working overtime, and thus avoid a loss of from 3s. to 6s. per man.

* MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON

In accordance with the invariable custom, where there is only one day between Sunday and a public holiday, it has been decided to close the whole of the Home dockyards on the 24th December, and in such a case the dockyard regulations do not permit of the time lost being worked up.

MR. JENKINS

In view of the season —that it is Christmas time—and that some of the men only earn £1 a week, and what a hard Christmas it will be for them and their families if they lose one day's pay, cannot the Admiralty see their way to relax the rule on this occasion?

* MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON

I can only refer the hon. Member to the dockyard regulations on the subject.

MR. JENKINS

Will the £7,000 which will be saved by closing the dockyards on Christmas eve be applied towards the sum to be expended in connection with the increased wages just given?

* MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON

No, we are following the regulations laid down years ago.

MR. JENKINS

May I appeal to the right hon. Gentleman, in view of what has taken place in the dockyards, to reconsider this matter and waive the regulations for this year?

[No Answer was returned.]