§ Mr. JOHN WARDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the decision of the War Department to fix upon the Edinburgh wages and working conditions as applicable to their works near the Firth of Forth; and whether he proposes to follow a similar course with reference to the works at Rosyth?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)I am aware of the decision of the War Department regarding payment of Edinburgh rates of wages at Bedford, which is about four miles from Edinburgh. With regard to the works at Rosyth, which is fifteen miles from Edinburgh on the opposite side of the Firth of Forth, there are already recognised trade rates at Dunfermline, which is three miles from Rosyth, and within the area of which Burgh it is proposed to include Rosyth. The Board of Admiralty are of opinion that under the Fair Wages Resolution the Dunfermline rates, and not the Edinburgh rates, should be the determining standard so far as Rosyth is concerned.
§ Mr. JOHN WARDasked the Lord Advocate whether he can state the number of cases of accident and sickness of workmen employed upon the new dock works at Rosyth dealt with by the local Poor Law 886 authority in their workhouse infirmary since the commencement of the works; what has been the total estimated cost to the ratepayers of dealing with these cases; and what special grant, it any, has been contributed by either the Admiralty or the contractors to the local Poor Law authority towards the cost of the same?
§ Mr. UREThe cases of accident, mostly slight, which have been sent by Inverkeithing parish council to the Dunfermline Poorhouse Hospital have been twenty-four, and the cases of sickness fifty-three. The estimated cost of these to the ratepayers has been £90; nothing has been contributed by the Admiralty or by the contractors.