§ 13. Mr. C. DUNCANasked whether any discrimination is made between skilled and semi-skilled or unskilled workers employed at Invergordon in the payment of subsistence allowance, who may have been started as local entrants?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIf workmen of any grade are transferred from the southern yards they receive subsistence allowance. As regards men domiciled in the same district as the station in question, we sometimes have to offer subsistence allowance to secure the services of fully skilled men. Unskilled labourers are more easily obtained from the locality itself, and no subsistence allowance is therefore paid. Further, unskilled labourers at some distance from the station in question are sometimes willing to transfer their services to us without offer of subsistence allowance. Those services are accepted on those terms. In no case, however, would a man receive other than the full emoluments offered to him on accepting employment.
Mr. TYSON WILSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that if men are sent by a trade union they do not receive the subsistence allowance, and that it is only when they are sent by an employment exchange that it is paid to them?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am not sure about that. I will take note of what my hon. Friend has said.