§ MR. BRAMSDON (Portsmouth)I bog to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty
†See (4) Debates, clix., 160.‡See (4) Debates, clxv., 1114.1262 whether the wages of workmen in His Majesty's dockyards are based on the number of hours per week they are actually engaged in work, and calculated on the rate of wages per hour of similar classes of workmen in private yards; whether by this method the workmen receive less wages per week in the dockyards than those in private yards; and whether the concession of a previous Government of the 48-hours week to men in such dockyards is no longer applicable, but the shorter hours are to be worked at a loss to the men.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe total number of hours worked per week and the hourly rate of wages for similar work in private yards are both important factors in determining the dockyard rates, but they are not the only points taken into consideration. In some cases, the total weekly wages are less than those in the private trade, where the week is five or six hours longer. The introduction of the 48-hours week has in no case resulted in a reduction from the weekly rates previously paid.