§ 1. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Minister of Munitions whether his attention has been directed to a decision given by Mr. 1428 E. H. C. Wethered, chairman of the Bristol Munitions Court, in the case of a man who asked for a leaving certificate on the ground that he was a fitter and was not paid the standard rate; whether he is aware that, despite the disagreement of the assessors, the chairman refused the certificate on the ground that the work done by the workman did not require a skilled all-round fitter and was therefore semi-skilled work; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made?
§ Mr. KELLAWAY (Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions)I understand that the complainant was employed on one of some forty operations which were necessary for assembling engines. The chairman found that a journeyman fitter was not required for this work, and that the district rate for a fitter was not applicable and refused a certificate on these grounds. As I understand the chairman's report, the assessors were not agreed among themselves; and in the circumstances the decision rested with the chairman.
§ Mr. ANDERSONDo I understand that a workman who is a skilled and fit engineer in a controlled establishment may be put to a less skilled job and get the wage of a less skilled job, and have no opportunity of getting redress?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe decision both on the facts and on the law rests with the tribunal, and in the event of dissatisfaction with it, there is an appeal.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that appeals are only allowed on the very narrowest grounds of law, and that consequently there is no remedy in appeal at all?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYNo: there is also an appeal on mixed law and fact.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that such an appeal is not-entertained?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI think that my hon. Friend is misinformed.
§ Mr. PRINGLENo, I am not.
Mr. T. WILSONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this is a distinct breach of the promise made to skilled workmen working in controlled establishments'?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThat is the question which is in dispute. If there is any breach of the undertaking arrived at 1429 between the Government and the trade union, attention can be directed to it by the machinery provided under the Act, by which questions of that kind have to be decided.
§ Mr. ANDERSONWill the hon. Member undertake to make inquiry into this, seeing that he has this decision, that a skilled workman in a controlled establishment can be made a labourer and get the wage of a labourer?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYIf there are any grounds such as to justify an inquiry I should not hesitate to have an inquiry immediately.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWould the hon. Gentleman see that a general inquiry is made as to how far the administration of this provision is carrying out the intentions of Parliament?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI would rather not go beyond the particular question which has been asked.
§ Mr. PRINGLEI will raise it in Debate.
§ 2. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Minister of Munitions whether he will cause in vestigation to be made into a decision given by Mr. C. E. Godwin, chairman of the Southampton Munitions Court, in the case of a carpenter who applied for a leaving certificate; whether he is aware that this workman, who has been ejected from the Army for heart trouble, is obliged to cycle eight miles daily to his work and finds it too hard for him and has been offered employment nearer his home; and will he ascertain the reasons for which the leaving certificate of this workman has been refused by the Court?
§ The MINISTER of MUNITIONS (Dr. Addison)I am making inquiries into this matter, and will communicate the result to my hon. Friend.