§ 27. Mr. PETOasked whether any of the contractors employed in hut construction for the new camps erected, and in process of erection, are paid on the basis of a percentage on cost; if so, at what percentage; and what percentage of the total hutting being provided is paid for on this system?
Mr. BAKERCertain firms are employed as agents to the Department for the construction of huts and are paid on the basis of a percentage on cost. The percentage works out to 5½ per cent., covering establishment charges and head office expenses, except in certain cases in which firms undertook part of the work allotted to them free of charge. At present about 52 per cent. of the total hutting is being paid for on this system.
§ 20. Mr. RENDALLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the War Office insists on conditions with contractors for huts, other than the rate of wages, as to the treatment of the men employed; whether he is aware that at Romsey remount department the men are compelled to work from 6.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., with half-an-hour for breakfast and one hour for dinner, although the men have asked to have the dinner hour reduced to half-an-hour because the mess-room accommodates about 100 only out of the 800 men employed; whether he is aware that mess-rooms are supposed to exist for all the men, and will he say why they have mot been erected; and is he aware that strikes have been continually threatened?
Mr. BAKERThe War Office does not insist on any condition, except as to rate of wages, but any complaint as to want of fair and reasonable treatment would at once receive attention. The rule at Romsey is to allow one hour for dinner, and it is not clear that any reduction would be acceptable because of an alleged insufficiency of messing room. There is no undertaking on the part of the contractor to provide mess-rooms for the whole of the men, but additional huts are to be used temporarily for mess-rooms as required. I am informed that no complaint has been received from the men on this subject.