§ 18. Mr. WADSWORTHasked whether, in view of the engineering importance of the War, any of the British professional engineers appearing in the published lists of the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Electrical Engineers, and of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, to the number of 12,000, have been retained at upwards of £3,000 per annum; and whether he is aware that this is the only profession which has to qualify by actual labour experience before admission to the lists of the institutions, and therefore peculiarly numbers in its ranks the consultants whose services should be retained in labour matters?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part of the question, I am aware that a certain term of professional training is a condition precedent to membership of the institutions referred to, but I do not think that my hon. Friend's inference is necessarily a sound one.
§ 69. Mr. WADSWORTHasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the engineering importance of the War, any British professional engineers in 1245 the published lists of the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Electrical Engineers, and of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, to the number of 12,000, have been retained at upwards of £3,000 per annum; what number of these professional engineers are actually serving in the ranks, whereby their experience of labour and mastery of materials is lost to the nation and its workers who must have the advice and direction which constitute a great national asset; whether the Government will consider the advisability of retaining a number of these professional engineers at retainers essential to such an eminent and arduous profession and at least equal to those paid to medical and legal consultants; whether he has considered whether the public recognition and extensive retention of these trained engineers in authoritative positions would improve labour processes; whether these engineers could relieve a number of experimental military officers for service with the troops; how many of the listed professional engineers have offered their services for organising and other engineering work to the War Office and have not so far been retained; whether, in view of the preventative, constructive, and aggressive value of the work of this profession, the Government will take steps to place its members in prominent positions in the legislature and to extend its services beyond the Committee Rooms; and whether any chemists are retained by the Government at £5,000 per annum?
§ Mr. TENNANTIn reply to the first three parts of the question, I am not aware that any civilian engineers have been retained at a salary of £3,000 a year or upwards, nor can I state that number of the members of the institutions are serving with the ranks. The War Office is receiving much useful assistance from members of the civil engineering profession and no complaint has been made that workers on war materials are being hindered owing to want of professional advice. As regards the fourth part of the question, it is not considered that the labour processes would be improved by the extensive retention of trained engineers beyond those already in War Department service. As regards the fifth part of the question, a certain number of civil engineers have already relieved military engineers for service with the troops. As regards the sixth part of the question, the applications from civil engineers are to numerous to specify. I understand that sixty have been employed in various ways. I think that the point 1246 raised in the seventh part of the question would more properly be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. I am not aware that any chemists are retained by the Government at £5,000 per annum.