§ 33. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that civilian pensioners employed at the Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport, and "Indus," unlike other dockyard employés called up for service, are not participating in the 2s. bonus?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIf the hon. Member refers to pensioners in receipt of civilian rates of pay, they will receive the emergency increase announced in the award of the Committee on Production. The award is not applicable to the cases of men called up but retained in the establishments referred to on naval work at naval rates of pay.
§ 34 and 35. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) whether yard-craft men are required, under Clause 35 of Answers to Petitions (page 12), to surrender any special privileges; and, if so, will he explain what those privileges are and the cause of their sur- 822 render; and (2) whether he can say when the yard-craft men will receive payment in respect to the concessions recently granted therein; and will he explain the cause of the delay that has occurred?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe improvements in wages and conditions of employment of yard-craft men set out in the answers to petitions were conditional upon the surrender of special privileges in certain cases. The privileges in question are certain advantages which were enjoyed by some of the yard-craft men in respect of sick leave with pay and medical attendance. I imagine that any delay which may have occurred in some cases is owing to the hesitation of some of the men to accept the conditions regarding the surrender of special privileges previously enjoyed by them. Payment of the increased rates has already been made to those men who have accepted the conditions.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEAre we to understand, unless they agree to this, that that bonus of 2s. will be stopped?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI do not know what the hon. Member is thinking about in the matter of bonuses. It is not a question of bonus. We set out new conditions, and the receipt of the new conditions were contingent upon giving up certain privileges.
§ Mr. CHARLES DUNCANIs it not the fact that the advance of wages was given to these men because of the increase in the cost of living, and now, instead of giving them an advance, the advantages that they have been in receipt of are to be taken away from them; therefore, it will be no advance at all?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMy hon. Friend, if I may respectfully say so, quite misunderstands. These are the replies of the officials; what he refers to is quite a different matter.