Sir GILBERT PARKERasked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the Port Authority have decided that in future all masters, mates, and first and second engineers will not be entitled to overtime; is he aware that, while the actual working time is officially stated as sixty-six hours per week, all the bucket dredgers' men work ten ebb tides per week of seven hours 24 each, while there is approximately another twenty hours' work required for shifting buckets, links, moorings, and attendant repairs, etc., to the machinery, making in all in some cases about ninety hours per week; and what is the reason that the Port Authority have abolished pay for such overtime?
Mr. BUXTONI am informed by the Port of London Authority that they have decided that masters, mates, engineers, and second engineers are not entitled to overtime for the reason that there are sufficient officers on each vessel to carry out the work without the necessity of any of them working overtime. The Port Authority state that while the working time is officially laid down as sixty-six hours per week, the actual time on ten ebb tides rarely exceeds sixty hours, exclusive of overtime, which, in the case of the men, is paid for separately. I understand that the men do not regularly work twenty hours a week extra, but occasionally the additional work has occupied this time, and in all such cases overtime is paid for.
Sir G. PARKERWill the right hon. Gentleman allow me to give him specific instances in which overtime has not been paid?
Mr. BUXTONCertainly. Any information which the hon. Member sends me I will forward to the proper authorities.