§ MR. WHITEHEAD (Essex, S.E.)To ask the Secretary for War, whether the War Office have recently engaged a carpenter at Shoeburyness at the rate of 8d. per hour; whether he is aware that the standard rate for such work in the district is 9d. per hour; and whether the War Office will take steps to act as a model employer by adopting the current trade union rate of pay.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) A carpenter was recently engaged by the War Department at Shoeburyness on probation at the rate of 8d. an hour. The rate of 9d. is recognised as the standard rate at Shoeburyness for fully qualified carpenters. The carpenter in question will have his pay raised to 9d. as soon as he is certified to be a competent workman.