HC Deb 20 June 1910 vol 18 cc16-7
Mr. HOHLER

asked the First Lord of Admiralty whether he is aware that the superintendent civil engineer, Admiralty Harbour Works Division, Dover, is now employing one or more assistant engineers on dredger at the wages of 35s. a week of seven days, of 12 hours each day, or 5d. an hour; that an assistant engineer is a skilled fitter, possessing a practical knowledge of marine work, evidenced, if possible, by a Board of Trade certificate; that the current rate of wages for a fitter in shop or ship at Dover is 36s. for a week of not more than fifty-four hours, or 8d. an hour, and at Chatham for a similar week 38s.; and whether he will at once take steps to see that the current rate of wages, in proportion to the hours' work, is paid to assistant engineers or fitters employed at Dover, in accordance with the undertaking given to the House?

Mr. McKENNA

The terms of service are not correctly stated by the hon. Member in the first part of his question. When twelve hours are worked during any day, pay for a day and a quarter is allowed. Moreover, 35s. a week is the minimum rate, the maximum being 42s. a week. The assistant engineers referred to are not engaged as nor required to be skilled fitters, and it is not considered that their duties are comparable with those of a skilled fitter.

Mr. HOHLER

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to state the rate of wages per hour of engineers at Dover?

Mr. McKENNA

There is no regular number of hours worked daily, and, as I have stated in reply to the question, when the hours are worked the pay would be at the rate of 35s. per week, plus a quarter per diem.

Mr. HOHLER

Would the right hon. Gentleman give me the number of hours worked and the rate of pay, and I will work out the sum per hour?

Mr. McKENNA

There is no exact rate which can be worked out because these men are engaged by the week, and the number of hours they work per diem varies. If they work twelve hours they are paid one day and a quarter.

Mr. HOHLER

Could not the right hon. Gentleman state the rate of pay and the minimum number of hours, and the rest of the calculation is easy?

Mr. McKENNA

That would imply that I should be able to say how many hours per week these men are called on to work. As the number of hours varies it would be impossible for me to say the number of hours they would be required to work.