§ 85. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the 12½ per cent. increase granted to skilled workers applies to skilled workers in the employment of the Admiralty; and what steps lie proposes to take in this matter?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe award, as my hon. Friend is aware, was originally announced by the Ministry of Munitions for skilled time workers, engineers, and moulders on time work. Though it was not thus made applicable to the men in the Royal dockyards and naval establishments, we immediately proceeded, as we always have done in a similar case, to consider whether in equity it ought not to be made applicable to our men. There then arose a number of questions regarding the scope of the original award by the Ministry of Munitions. This has made it impossible for us to give the decision which would, I have no doubt, otherwise have been given. But on behalf of the Board, I am authorised to say that, whatever award is ultimately decided upon to outside classes of workmen will be made applicable to similar classes of workmen in the Royal dockyard 581 similarly situated, and such award will come into force as and from the date of its application outside. I hope the questions arising out of the application of the award by the Ministry of Munitions will promptly be settled. The moment they are we shall take up the application of the matter to our own employés.