HC Deb 08 May 1911 vol 25 cc855-6
Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH - COOKE

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he can now state to the House the views of the Government with regard to the raising of the minimum wages for adult workmen employed under the War Department; whether he is aware that notices have been posted stating that the minimum wage for adult workmen at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, henceforth will be 24s. instead of 23s.; whether he is aware that the minimum wage for labourers employed in His Majesty's Gun Wharf, Devonport, War Department, is 20s. 6d. per week (6d. being deducted for extra half-holidays and free medical advice), and that these men perform the same class of work, both in stores and out of them, as that performed by the Woolwich labourer, and that the price of house rent and living in Woolwich and Devon-port may be considered to be on an equality; and whether, in these circumstances, he will consider the advisability of raising the minimum wage at the Gun Wharf, Devonport, in the same proportion as he has raised it at Woolwich?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely)

The rates of minimum wage at Woolwich and Devon-port are as stated by the hon. Gentleman, and the class of work for which these rates are paid is generally the same at both stations. The question of raising the minimum wage at Devonport is still under consideration as part of the general question of wages at stations outside the London area.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

Will the right hon. Gentlemen state if the facts I have put in my question are facts, as regards the publication of the statement at Woolwich?

Mr. LEIF JONES

Does not the hon. Member who puts a fact on the Paper make himself responsible for the accuracy of the fact?

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer my question?

Colonel SEELY

I should be very sorry to make myself responsible for any fact, stated by an hon. Member in any quarter of the House without careful inquiry, however anxious he may be to put them right. I cannot add anything to the answer I have given. I think it would be very unwise to do so.

Mr. LEIF JONES

May I ask for your ruling, in view of the growing practice on the part of hon. Members who put questions on the Paper dealing with opinions as matters of fact?

Mr. SPEAKER

The answer to the question is in the affirmative. If an hon. Member in a question makes a statement, I presume he accepts the responsibility after some sort of investigation; but perhaps the investigation is not always thoroughly carried out.