HC Deb 10 May 1911 vol 25 cc1190-2
Mr. WHELER

asked if the right hon. Gentleman would state the arrangements made for the granting of official holidays on the occasion of His Majesty's Coronation to the men employed in the Royal dockyards?

Mr. McKENNA

Men employed at Admiralty establishments within the administrative county of London—namely, Deptford, West India Docks, Woolwich, and Greenwich, will be given holidays with pay on the 22nd and 23rd June. All others employed in Admiralty establishments at home and abroad will be given a holiday with pay on the 22nd June.

Mr. J. WARD

Will that apply to men employed by the contractors as well as to those directly employed by the Government?

Mr. McKENNA

Yes, Sir. There will be no distinction between the two. There are to be public holidays on the 22nd and 23rd of June in London, but not outside.

Mr. J. WARD

I was asking the right hon. Gentleman about the pay.

Mr. McKENNA

We have no control over the contractors' men. I am not aware in the places named that we employ any contractors' men.

Mr. W. THORNE

Will the right hon. Gentleman try to persuade the contractors to treat their men in the same way, and pay their men on Coronation day?

Mr. McKENNA

I am not aware that we employ any contractors' men at Deptford or West India Docks, or at Woolwich and Greenwich Docks.

Mr. JOHN WARD

I mean all over the country?

Mr. McKENNA

In the other dockyards they will be paid for the holiday on 22nd June.

Mr. LEE

Will no holiday be paid for in the yard at Portsmouth during the Coronation Naval Review?

Mr. McKENNA

No, Sir. The only holiday they will receive pay for will be the 22nd of June.

Mr. W. THORNE

Will the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the contractors at Rosyth with a view to securing for the navvies and other men who work under contractors payment for this holiday?

Mr. McKENNA

I will do my best, but I am rather afraid the contractors will say to me if the British Government wish the men to have this holiday they ought to pay for it.

Mr. JOYCE

Why not appeal to their patriotism?

Mr. NEWDEGATE

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he proposes to introduce legislation to empower small parishes only possessing parish meetings to levy rates in connection with Coronation celebrations in the same way that parishes possessing parish councils are enabled to levy these rates?

The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)

I do not propose to give any general sanction to expenditure in this matter by parish meetings. The General Order which I have issued extends to expenditure by rural district councils, and I anticipate that, as in the year 1902, the sanction given to these authorities will generally enable the cases of the very small rural parishes to be sufficiently provided for. If in any particular case an application is made to me on behalf of a parish meeting for special sanction, I will, of course, consider it.

Mr. LEES SMITH

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that, while public money is being spent upon the forthcoming Coronation, there is no Minister responsible to Parliament for answering questions with regard to this expenditure; and whether he will advise the Crown to associate a responsible Minister with the Earl Marshal in the conduct of such State ceremonials?

The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)

The arrangements for the Coronation are in the hands of the Earl Marshal, assisted by an Executive Committee which has been appointed by Order in Council. The heads of the various Public Departments will be ready to answer any questions relating to those portions of the arrangements for the carrying out of which they are respectively responsible; and I will myself, so far as it is within my power, answer questions with regard to matters which do not fall within the special province of any other Department.