Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the growing practice in the dockyards of employing Service risen in doing work, such as stage-making, etc., which was formerly done by civilian labour; and whether he can take action to prevent this subtraction from the volume of civilian labour, or at any rate to strictly limit and define the work to be done by Service men?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. McKenna)Both on grounds of economy and of familiarising naval ratings with this class of work so that ships' companies would be enabled to execute it in time of war, I am unable to agree with the suggestion contained in my hon. Friend's question.
Mr. TYSON WILSONasked whether the Admiralty, upon representations being made to them some years ago, discontinued the practice of putting Service men through a short course of training as sail-makers, and that the practice has again been started at Devonport and Chatham dockyards, constituting a competition with civilian sailmakers, who have served a long apprenticeship to the trade; and whether he will take steps to have the practice brought to an end?
§ Mr. McKENNACandidates for sail-maker class are taken from seamen who wish to transfer to that rating, and they receive such training as is necessary to fit them for their Service duties. The practice now in force at Chatham and Devon-port has been in existence for many years. I have no record of representations being made, as stated in the first part of my hon. Friend's question, and I am not aware that there has been any discontinuance of the courses of training, but I am making further inquiries on the point.
§ Mr. E. JARDINEWill the right hon. Gentleman grant increased facilities to Service men to learn the trade so that they may obtain better situations on leaving the Service?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am afraid I cannot answer that question without notice. I should have to examine into each case to see what opportunity there might be for service in the yard.
Mr. TYSON WILSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these men, when they leave the Service accept employment at far less wages, because they are not qualified workmen?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am not aware of that fact. If my hon. Friend will put down a question I will make inquiry.
§ Mr. PONSONBYasked whether, in view of the fact that, no obligation remains with the Admiralty with regard to hospital accommodation for the contractors workmen at Rosyth, and since it appears, from a reply on 25th April, that in, the contract no obligation is placed on the contractors to provide such accommodation, some more definite and satisfactory arrangement can be made to prevent neglect and to secure the proper treatment of accidents and sickness among men employed in a national undertaking for which the Government is primarly responsible?
§ Mr. McKENNAIn reply to my hon. Friend's question, I must point out that slight accidents are not ordinarily the subject of hospital treatment, and as regards accidents requiring such treatment my information is that there is no deficiency of hospital accommodation. In the case of Rosyth a peculiar difficulty arises from the fact that many of the workmen live in tenements of the nature of Rowton Houses, and that in the event of their suffering from a slight accident or sickness not requiring hospital treatment, there are no domestic facilities for their treatment in the tenement as would be the case if they were living in their own homes. I am at the present time in communication on the subject with the contractors.
Major GUESTasked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware of the dissatisfaction that exists among chargemen of shipwrights in His Majesty's dockyards owing to the fact that chargemen are working side by side, at similar and equally responsible work, on different 202 rates of pay; and if so, does he propose to take any steps to modify this arrangement?
§ Mr. McKENNAComplaints have been made by the chargemen of shipwrights in respect to the subject of the question in connection with the annual petitions received from the dockyards employés, and the matter is under consideration.
§ Mr. PONSONBYasked the Lord Advocate whether, in view of the fact that out of over 2,400 workmen employed on the Admiralty works at Rosyth, less than 400 have housing accommodation for their wives and families, on what foundation the Scottish Local Government. Board based the statement in their Report of the 1st March that the navvies are accommodated in a satisfactory manner?
§ Mr. UREMy hon. Friend is mistaken in supposing that the Local Government Board for Scotland has made any Report on the subject. The Report which my hon. Friend has in view is probably the Report of the county medical officer of Fife, referred to in the answer of the First Lord of the Admiralty on the 25th April in reply to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent. I may add that the Local Government Board for Scotland are conducting an inquiry by their own officers as regards the housing accommodation at Rosyth.