HC Deb 05 May 1908 vol 188 cc36-8
MAJOR ANSTRUTHER-GRAY (St. Andrews Burghs)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can give any information as to whether foreign or Scottish granite will be used in the construction of the docks at Rosyth.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. McKENNA,) Monmouthshire, N.

The Admiralty are asking for alternative tenders, but no information can be given at present as to whether stone from home or foreign quarries will be used in the construction of the docks at Rosyth.

MR. MITCHELL-THOMSON (Lanarkshire, N.W.)

Are the tenders open tenders, or merely tenders by invitation? If the latter, how many British and how many foreign firms have been invited?

MR. McKENNA

I must ask for notice.

MAJOR ANSTRUTHER-GRAY

When may I expect a reply to my Question?

MR. McKENNA

I have said that she Admiralty are now asking for alternative tenders.

MR. JOHN WARD (Stoke-on-Trent)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the number of men now employed upon the works at Rosyth, whether employed by contractors or otherwise, the hours such men work per day, and the rate of wages paid?

MR. McKENNA

Fifteen men are employed by the Admiralty at Rosyth on borings, working at present nine hours per day; leading man is getting 6s. 6d. per day; skilled labourers 6½d. per hour; labourers 6d. per hour. These are picked men working on rafts. The contractor who is doing the diversion of the road for the Admiralty has at present 100 men employed working ten hours per day, the wages being, for gangers, 6½d.; navvies, 5d.; horse-drivers, 4½d.; bricklayers, 9½d.; labourers, 5d.; boys, 2¼d. all per hour. The contractor who is putting in the experimental cylinder has seven men employed working variable hours, depending on weather and tide. Their wages are—foreman, 62s. per week; waterman, 30s. per week; train-driver, 7d. per hour; labourers, 5½d. and 5d. per hour; storekeeper, 24s. per week.

MR. JOHN WARD

Seeing that the Admiralty are paying 6d. per hour and the contractor only 5d. will the right hon. Gentleman, under the Fair Wages Clause in the contract take action to secure that proper wages are paid to the navvies?

MR. McKENNA

I will inquire. I am not sure what is the character of the work in each case.