§ 22 and 23. Mr. C. DUNCANasked (1) the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the increases of pay already granted to the workmen in His Majesty's dockyards, it is intended to improve the pay of the clerical staff, observing that the latter are working under conditions equally as arduous as the former and are suffering in a not less degree from the increase in the cost of living; and (2) when a reply will be given to the representations made by the Admiralty and Outports Clerical Federation in December last respecting the overtime payment for clerks and hired writers in His Majesty's naval establishments; whether he is aware that the scales of pay for this extra attendance are in many cases less than the hourly rate for ordinary attendance and is not equal to that in force in the War Department; and whether it is intended to remove this grievance?
§ Dr. MACNAMARABoth this matter and that raised in the next question of my hon. Friend are under consideration.
§ 46. Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked the Prime Minister whether Sir George Ask-with has reported upon the requests of the Government dockyard labourers and skilled labourers for increased wages which they are now claiming; and whether he is in a position to inform the House of the result of the inquiry?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am informed that the Committee to whom these matters have been referred are to-day meeting a large number of representatives of the various classes of workpeople concerned, including, I understand, representatives of the union of which my hon. Friend is the secretary.