19. Sir T. BRAMSDONasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, whether the 12½ per cent. bonus paid to established men in the Royal dockyards was so paid pursuant to the Order of the 13th October, 1917, signed by the then Minister of Munitions; whether Clause 1 of such Order does not, in effect, state that workmen to whom those directions apply should receive the bonus mentioned on their earnings, which should not alter or become part of their time rates; whether the bonus was not therefore properly payable to the established men upon their earnings from the date of the Order, the 13th October, 1917; and whether, as he has arranged for it to be calculated in the future on the hired rate (i.e., upon their earnings) instead of the established rate, he will give directions for the calculation of payment to be made restrospective to the date of the Order of the 13th October, 1917?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe bonus referred to was paid to established men in the Royal dockyards, in pursuance of a decision by the Board of Admiralty, although the Order of the Ministry of Munitions affecting other employment led to the Admiralty decision. The bonus was properly payable in accordance with the Admiralty instructions, and it is not proposed to give retrospective effect to the decision to calculate the 12½ per cent. for established men on hired rates, which was announced in reply to my hon. Friend's question of 9th April.
Sir T. BRAMSDONDoes my right hon. Friend admit that the facts and references stated in the question are correct?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have said that the Ministry of Munitions Order led to our Order.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs regards the Ministry of Munitions, as far as I know, yes.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is a question of the retrospective effect of the 12½ per cent. for the period mentioned on the difference between the higher pay and the established pay. We have not made it retrospective.