HC Deb 17 March 1913 vol 50 cc697-9
34. Mr. JOHN WARD

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any special Orders have been issued to managers of Labour Exchanges to recruit cheap labour for work upon the Government works at Rosyth; and if he can state what are the promises as to rates of wages and working conditions which such managers are making as an inducement for men to migrate to the works in question?

Mr. J. M. ROBERTSON

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative. As regards the second part, navvies applying for employment upon the Government works at Rosyth are informed that the minimum wage is 5½d. per hour.

Mr. J. WARD

Would the hon. Gentleman ask that these figures should be posted in the offices of the Labour Exchanges, and is he aware that complaints have been made to the Navvies' Union that men have been taken from Labour Exchanges in the East End of London and promised 6d. and 6½d. an hour, and that they have been disappointed at not receiving the wage when they have got there?

Mr. ROBERTSON

Perhaps the hon. Gentlemen will send me details of the cases. I know nothing of them.

42. Mr. JOHN WARD

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the contractors for the Rosyth Dock have made any application to his Department for an extension of time, owing to the three weeks stoppage by the navvies' strike last autumn; and, if so, what decision his Department has come to as to the length of extension to be granted; and what effect such extension of time will have upon the weekly bonus offered for earlier completion?

Mr. G. LAMBERT (Civil Lord of the Admiralty)

The contractors for the Rosyth Docks have made application for an extension of time, owing to the navvies, coal, and transport strikes. This application is now being considered, but any such extension will have no effect on the weekly bonus offered for earlier completion.

Mr. J. WARD

Do I understand that even if the works are delayed twelve months beyond the contract time the contractor will still receive a bonus? It is well in keeping I know.

Mr. LAMBERT

Owing to the navvies and transport strikes the application for an extension of time is now being considered.

56. Mr. J. WARD

asked whether any recent contracts, beyond the original contract for works at Rosyth, have been entered into by his Department with Messrs. Easton. Gibbs, Limited, and, if so, what is the amount of the new contract; how many firms were invited to tender; what was the amount of each tender in the case of the unsuccessful competing firms; and what is the nature of the Fair-Wage Clause in the new contract?

Mr. LAMBERT

A supplemental contract has recently been entered into with Messrs. Easton Gibbs and Son for a third dock at Rosyth. The rates to be paid are, where applicable, the same as in the existing contract. The approximate cost of this further work is about £290,000. No other firms were invited to tender, as it would have been impracticable to have two contractors working on the site. The Fair-Wage Clause included in this supplemental contract is that passed by the House of Commons on 10th March, 1909.

Mr. J. WARD

May we take it that here is a case of a contract of nearly £250,000 without any notice, advertisement, or competition of any description?

Mr. LAMBERT

No. This was foreseen when the contract was made, and the contractor entered into a certain definite scheme as to the terms on which he would execute the contract.

Mr. J. WARD

Are the terms of the execution of this work the same as for the old dock?

Mr. LAMBERT

As I have said in my answer, the rates to be paid are where applicable the same as in the existing contract.