§ 24. Mr. WATTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that advances of wages paid to workmen engaged on Admiralty work on the Clyde by the order of the Committee of Production, the total of which was agreed upon six months ago, have never yet been paid; and will he see that the money is remitted without further delay?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI do not know whether my hon. and learned Friend is referring to the Committee on Production's award of a war bonus of 3s. on 1st August last; another war bonus of 5s. was, of course, awarded in December last. I can scarcely believe that in either of these cases the money has not been paid. But if my hon. and learned Friend will give me particulars of any case in which it has not been paid, the matter shall be dealt with at once. I gather from what 1725 my hon. and learned Friend has said in putting his question, that it is the subcontractor and not the men who have not been paid. If he will let me have particulars, I will go into the matter at once.
§ 25. Mr. WATTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether lie is aware that in the cases dealt with by the Committee of Production last year, herein advances were granted to workmen engaged on contracts for his Department and such advances were loyally paid by sub-contractors to their workmen engaged on Admiralty work, that the shipbuilders and others, particularly on the Clyde, contracting direct with his Department are refusing to forward to him the sub-contractors' claims for those advances paid whereby these sub-contractors are unable to recover the extra wages paid; and will he indicate some method by which these sub-contractors can recover these advances paid?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIn some few cases the Admiralty is aware that sub-contractors have experienced difficulty in obtaining a refund of the advances in wages granted to their workmen by the Committee on Production, and paid by them in accordance therewith. It is not, possible to say, from my hon. and learned Friend's question, whether the sub-contractors whom he has in Lind have Cade representations direct to them Admiralty. Bf they have not done so, I suggest that they should at once communicate to the Admiralty details of their case, when the matter will be at once investigated on its merits.