HC Deb 15 May 1911 vol 25 cc1639-40
Mr. JOHN WARD

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can give the number of contracting firms who were called upon by the Director of Works for their opinion as to the proper wages to be paid to navvies at Rosyth; the dates of their replies; and their nature?

Mr. McKENNA

Two firms were consulted by the Director of Works in addition to those consulted and referred to in my reply of the 6th April to my hon. Friend. I can only repeat now what was stated by me in my reply of the 9th May, that it is undesirable to give departmental information of a confidential character.

Mr. J. WARD

May I ask whether Messrs. McAlpine, the Government contractors for one of the docks, was one of the firms consulted on the subject?

Mr. McKENNA

No, Sir, I do not think that was one of the firms consulted, but I will inquire. My recollection is that they were not consulted.

Mr. J. WARD

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of the Government contractors has advertised in the "Dunfermline Courier" for navvies, stating the wages to be 5½d. an hour, and does he still insist that 5d. an hour is the proper rate to be paid?

Mr. McKENNA

I will inquire into the question raised by my hon. Friend, but he must remember that, provided fair wages under the Fair Wages Clause are being paid, we have no power to interfere. They are not navvies employed by us, but by the contractors, and if, as I am informed, 5d. an hour is the usual fair rate of pay, I have no power to interfere.

Mr. J. WARD

It is the right hon. Gentleman who decides after all whether a contractor is paying fair wages in accordance with the terms of his contract, and if there are contractors advertising for men at 5½d. an hour in the locality, would not that indicate what was considered the fair rate of wages for that class of workmen?

Mr. McKENNA

It certainly would be strong evidence on the point.

Mr. WILLIAM THORNE

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will consider the advisability of having a schedule showing the rates of pay attached to all contracts in the same way as is done by the county council?

Mr. McKENNA

That is a very much wider question, and I am afraid I cannot answer it in replying to a supplemetary question.