HC Deb 25 April 1911 vol 24 cc1595-7
Mr. JOHN WARD

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that twenty-four cases of accident to workmen employed upon the new dock works at Rosyth have been treated in the local Poor Law institutions at the expense of the ratepayers since July, 1910; and whether he proposes to take action to provide proper hospital accommodation for the workmen and prevent their becoming paupers?

Mr. McKENNA

I am aware that my right hon. Friend the Lord Advocate stated on the 27th March last, in reply to a question by my hon. Friend, that twenty-four cases of accident, mostly slight, have been sent to the Dunfermline Poor-House Hospital by the Parish Council of Inverkeithing since the commencement of the works. I am informed that since 1st July, 1910, twelve men were sent to the Poor Law Infirmary suffering from accidents which they stated were received on Rosyth works; eleven of these were light cases of bruises and strains. One case of broken leg was treated in the first instance in the West of Fife Hospital, but while under treatment the man became insane and had to be removed to the Poor Law Infirmary for proper supervision. Any obligation there may be for the provision of hospital accommodation for the workmen at Rosyth falls upon the contractors and not upon the Admiralty.

Mr. JOHN WARD

When are we going to have it finally settled whether it is the duty of the right hon. Gentleman or the contractor?

Mr. McKENNA

I think it is perfectly clear that no obligation remains with the Admiralty with regard to hospital accommodation being provided for the contractors' workmen.

Mr. ASHLEY

Is any obligation put on the contractor under the contract?

Mr. McKENNA

I do not think in the contract there is any obligation on the contractor. The ordinary custom of the trade governs the relations between the contractor and his men. In the contract between the Admiralty and the contractor the Fair Wages Clause is of course inserted. That Clause does not secure hospital accommodation.

Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAY

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the hospital accommodation is ample?

Mr. McKENNA

The reports I have received are not unfavourable in that respect, but the obligation of providing hospital accommodation does not fall upon the Admiralty.

Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAY

Will the right hon. Gentleman make further inquiries?

Mr. McKENNA

Certainly.

Mr. REMNANT

Have the two medical officers, one to be appointed by the Admiralty and one by the contractor, been appointed?

Mr. McKENNA

There are two medical officers in attendance, one appointed by the contractors, and an assistant appointed by the contractors. There is an Admiralty officer, but I do not think he is appointed specially in regard to these works.

Mr. REMNANT

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the matter. They were not appointed two months ago.

Mr. McKENNA

I can assure the hon. Member they are appointed at this moment.

Mr. J. WARD

asked whether the Scotch Local Government Board has made any communication to the Admiralty relating to the housing accommodation of the workmen employed upon the new dock works at Rosyth?

Mr. McKENNA

On 1st March, 1911, the Local Government Board for Scotland forwarded a copy of the report of the Medical Officer of Health of the Fife County Council on the conditions under which navvies employed at Rosyth are being housed, to the effect that the navvies temporarily housed within the Burgh of Inverkeithing were accommodated in a satisfactory manner.

Mr. MORRELL

Is the Local Government Board satisfied with the report?

Mr. McKENNA

That I cannot say, but the Local Government Board for Scotland forwarded a report to the Admiralty, and that is the only report we have received.

Mr. J. WARD

Is it the fact that this satisfactory accommodation is really a doss-house, where some 800 men take lodgings at 4d. a night, and where quite recently, owing to lack of proper accommodation, a man lay injured for two days without being washed or attended to?

Mr. McKENNA

I hope to have an opportunity not long hence of inspecting the place myself, but I am unable from personal knowledge at present to agree or disagree with the statement.