§ 64 and 65. Mr. ROWNTREEasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the number of adult men working on railways in the United Kingdom who are paid less than 24s. a week; if such information is not in his possession, whether he will communicate with all the railways in question 1231 with a view to ascertaining what are the numbers of adult men in regular employment receiving a less sum than 24s. a week at the present time; and (2) the latest official information with regard to the wages and hours of railway servants either in Great Britain or the United Kingdom; and whether, in the event of the information now in his possession proving to be unreliable as regards present day wages and hours, he will grant a Return which will give full and up to date particulars of the wages and hours of all grades of labour, specifying in each case the minimum wage paid on the several railways?
§ Mr. BURNSI regret I am unable to give the information asked for in my hon. Friend's first question, nor do I think a return on this basis would be useful in view of the great varieties of conditions, localities and other circumstances. The latest detailed return showing the rates of wages and actual earnings of railway servants relates to 1907. It is not practicable to repeat such elaborate inquiries at frequent intervals, but figures are given in the Annual Report on Changes in Rates of Wages showing the average weekly earnings of about 90 per cent. of the total number employed. According to these returns the average rise between December, 1907, and December, 1913, was a little over 2s. per week or 8 per cent.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are many skilled labourers employed in the Royal dockyards receiving 23s. a week?
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEHave the bulk of the increases been in the lower paid grades of workmen?