§ 57. Mr. BARNESasked the Secretary to the Admiralty if time worked as skilled labourer, although short of the twelve months qualifying period, will count as part of the twelve months in the event of men, owing to exigencies of the service, being reduced to ordinary labouring and then subsequently again being put on the skilled labouring list?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMy hon. Friend appears to be under a misapprehension as to the working of the probationary rate. It is not necessary for a skilled labourer to serve twelve months on that rate. In the discretion of the yard officers he can be advanced to the 24s. a week rate at any period if in their view the quality of his work justifies the advancement. With regard to the suggestion that small and broken periods of work as a skilled labourer should be noted and ultimately added together to make a complete twelve months, I am afraid that course is not practicable, and in any case, in view of the earlier part of my answer, it is not necessary.