§ 50. Mr. WHELERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the replies to the petitions of the workmen of His Majesty's dockyards will be issued before the Navy Estimates are discussed in the House of Commons?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)I hope to make a statement indicating the nature of our replies in the Debate on Monday.
§ Mr. WHELERDid the right hon. Gentleman promise that the petitions should be issued practically from week to week all through the Session, and now in the last days of the Session we are not told any more?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWe have done all we could to hasten them. They do not concern us only. If the hon. Member will possess his soul in patience for a few hours he will have a reply.
52. Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will issue instructions to the establishment at Portland to exhibit in prominent places accessible to the workmen the regulations governing employment in confined spaces?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is presumed the instructions referred to are those which were issued to the dockyards generally, for exhibition, in 1908. There is no objection to copies being posted at Portland, and this will be done.
53. Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will have a list of the piecework rates for men employed at the coaling depot, Portsmouth, exhibited in places accessible to the men; and whether he will inquire into the system of payment to these men, who have hitherto not received payment in accordance with the schedule of prices?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe coaling work at Portsmouth is divided into two classes: (1) The distribution of yard purpose coal to workshops, official residences, etc. (2) Discharge of colliers, supply to ships not in commission, tugs, etc. For the former, the work is performed by yard labour under a scheme of prices which is exhibited in a place accessible to the men concerned. For the latter, comprising by far the bulk of the coaling operations of the port, the work is performed under a contract, which provides that the rates paid by the contractor to his employés should be those current in the district for competent workmen.