Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSasked whether the Under-Secretary for War can now announce the result of the inquiry into the terms of employment of labourers in the Army Ordnance Department at Colchester; and whether any increase of wages has been or will be sanctioned?
§ Colonel SEELYYes, Sir. The minimum wage for labourers employed in the Army Ordnance Department at Colchester has been raised from 17s. 6d. to 18s. 6d. a week, with effect from 1st April last, and the officer in charge has been authorised to give a further increase up to 1s. to men at present on the minimum when performing work which involves special responsibility or skill.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration that this increase might date back for the fourteen months during which the Department has been inquiring into the matter?
§ Colonel SEELYI do not think we can do that. We have arranged already for the payment.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWill the right hon. Gentleman consider whether the increase of wages can be extended to other places where similar labour is done.
§ Colonel SEELYI must have notice of that question.
§ Mr. LANSBURYDoes the right hon. Gentleman's Department think that these wages (19s. a week) are adequate for a man, with a family, who, as he says, does skilled work?
§ Colonel SEELYThat is not the question which has been put to me. I am asked about a particular increase of wages—not about the general adequacy of wages—but I understand that these wages compare favourably with wages paid to persons not in Government employ engaged on the same work in the same district.
§ Mr. JOHN WARDIf 17s. a week was paid by this Government up to now at Colchester, what was the amount paid when the Opposition was in power?
§ Colonel SEELYI do not know.