§ 6. Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the advertisement asking for the assistance of pensioner clerks in the cash office of His Majesty's dockyard, Devonport, at a salary of 30s. a week, with extra pay for time worked beyond forty-eight hours; whether he has received a letter from the Dockyard Members' Committee at the House of Commons calling attention to the remuneration now being paid by the Admiralty to the additional hired writers, temporary clerks, employed in His Majesty's dockyard; whether that remuneration is 24s. a week for forty-eight hours, or 6d. an hour actual working time, which is the remuneration given to ordinary dockyard labourers; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)My attention has not been called to the advertisement referred to, but I may explain that the rate of pay offered in the advertisement is the minimum, rate payable to a pensioner clerk in the cash offices. I have received a letter from the Dockyard Members' Committee on the subject of the rate of pay granted at the dockyards to temporary hired writers. The remuneration offered to these writers is, as stated in the hon. Member's question, but overtime payment at the rate of 9d. an hour is made for time worked in excess of forty-eight hours a week. The question whether this remuneration should be increased is at present engaging my attention, and I hope that an announcement on the subject will be made shortly.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWill the right hon. Gentleman say what is the difference in the work done by these clerks?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am looking into their rates of pay.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs it not a fact that both these sets of men work forty-eight hours?
§ Dr. MACNAMARACertainly.