HC Deb 27 November 1912 vol 44 cc1441-2

Considered in Committee.

[Mr. MACLEAN in the Chair.]

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of any expenditure incurred in respect of the medical and surgical treatment of workmen employed in pursuance of any Act of the present Session to enable the Admiralty to construct and maintain a pier at North Killingholme, on the River Humber, and for purposes in connection therewith."—[Dr. Macnamara.]

Sir HILDRED CARLILE

Is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty going to make any statement as to the probable expense?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)

I think the Committee would desire that I should explain shortly the reason and the purpose for this Motion. It arises out of the Bill to enable the Admiralty to construct and maintain a pier at North Killingholme, on the River Humber. On the Second Reading of the Bill my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke (Mr. Ward) moved an Amendment in the following terms:— This House refuses to proceed with a Bill for the construction of works which does not contain provision for providing decent sanitary house and hospital accommodation for the workmen to he employed in accordance with its Standing Orders, and a minimum rate of wages of not less than sixpence per hour. I pointed out that the Standing Order 184A authorises the Committee to take into consideration the question of hospital and housing accommodation, and to make provision for accommodating the number of workmen beyond the provision the locality is able to supply? In pursuance of that power the Committee, with the full concurrence of the Admiralty, put in this new Clause, which I think I had better read:—

"The Admiralty shall erect, fit up, and maintain or provide such huts or buildings for the accommodation of the workmen employed in and about the construction of the works authorised by this Act such hospital accommodation for the treatment of cases of sickness or accident among such workmen, including accommodation for dealing with infectious diseases, as shall be reasonably necessary, having regard to the accommodation available in the neighbourhood of, or conveniently accessible from, the said works, and shall provide and maintain proper and sufficient sanitary accommodation in connection with every such building and hospital. The Admiralty shall pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in respect of the medical and surgical treatment of any workmen employed on the construction of the said works who is treated in any hospital accommodation provided by them, except in so far as such costs and expenses are payable under the provisions of the National Insurance Act, 1911, or otherwise."

The provision for the original undertaking is in the Navy Estimates amounting to £20,000, and this pier is only a part of that sum, but there is no estimate or provision in this Estimate for the liability in this new Clause, and that is why we have now to come and ask for this Money Resolution.

Resolution to be reported to-morrow (Thursday).