§ Mr. JOHN WARDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any hospital accommodation has been provided by either his Department or the contractors for the use of the workmen employed upon the new dock works at Rosyth; and, if not, can he give any reason for the deductions from the men's wages at stated periods of sums of money for the provision of hospital accommodation?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Admiralty have not provided any hospital accommodation for the men employed by the contractors, who are alone responsible in this matter. I understand that the contractors have made arrangements for hospital accommodation. I am informed that it is a common arrangement for contractors on great works of this nature to make deductions of the kind referred to in my hon. Friend's question, to cover the charges for general medical attendance.
§ Mr. J. WARDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that men who are working under his Department have had deductions made from their wages for hospital accommodation, and that only last week two of them, after paying for hospital accommodation, were admitted to the workhouse infirmary?
§ Mr. McKENNAMy hon. Friend must not suppose that we employ these men. They are engaged to do work which ultimately will be handed over to the 1189 Admiralty. At present the workmen are under the control of contractors to the Government. I was not aware of the circumstances mentioned by the hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. ASHLEYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether in the contract it was specifically laid down by the Admiralty that hospital accommodation should be provided?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have already answered that question. The Admiralty have no responsibility for the providing of hospital accommodation.
§ Mr. ASHLEYDo I understand that the Admiralty takes no responsibility for the lives and safety of the workmen?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Admiralty have no responsibility in respect of the conditions under which the contractors engage their men, except in so far as those conditions are stipulated in the contract. The only conditions we have entered in the contract are the conditions contained in the fair wages clause.
§ Dr. ADDISONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the fair wages conditions under which the men are employed do not imply that the contractors should provide suitable hospital accommodation?
§ Mr. McKENNAI understand that the contractors have provided hospital accommodation. Upon the point of responsibility, I have to state that the responsibility rests on the contractors and not on the Admiralty.
§ Mr. J. WARDMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will give facilities to the contractors, if such are required, in order that proper hospital accommodation should be provided near the works for the 2,000 men employed there?
§ Mr. McKENNAWe have always worked on the most friendly terms with our contractors.
§ Mr. J. WARDYes, but you do nothing.
§ Mr. McKENNAMy hon. Friend is not entitled to say that. Any fair request made to us by the contractors we have complied with. The contractors have not asked for any particular site for this purpose.
§ Mr. FELLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the increased work at Rosyth has entailed or will entail any further con- 1190 tracts for the supply of granite; if so, have these contracts been let; and, if not, will they be offered to the principal granite quarries in the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. McKENNAUnder the terms of the Admiralty contracts for the works at Rosyth, the contractors have exclusive discretion in selecting their source of supply of granite.
§ Mr. FELLAs we have already been informed that the contractors have gone to Norway for granite, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether further supplies will be considered as supplementary under the current contract or whether they will be open to tender?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe contractors have exclusive discretion in selecting their supplies of granite.
§ Mr. CROFTMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Admiralty will put a clause in future contracts insisting on British granite being used?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe contract is already made and the contractors have exclusive discretion in the matter.