§ 67. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that his Department, whilst compelling private employers to pay double time for Sunday work and time and a half for overtime work on other days, is not carrying out this principle at the Rosyth naval base; whether repeated complaints have been made to him on this matter; whether men have asked to be paid on the recognised Scotch basis; whether the workmen have resolved to work no more overtime until their request is met; and what action the Admiralty propose to take?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is, of course, the duty of the Admiralty in the execution of its contracts to see that employers respect the Fair Wages Clause, and, therefore, wherever double time for Sunday work and time and a half for overtime work on other days is the rule, it must be respected. So far as our own men are concerned at Rosyth and elsewhere, our overtime scale was revised in March, 1915, in accordance with the recommendation of the Committee on Production. That revision represented a very substantial improvement upon the scale in force prior to the date in 894 question. But as against what I think is now the pretty general practice outside of paying double time on Sundays, the rate was fixed at time and a half. Some time ago I asked that the whole question of outside custom should be surveyed, in order to see, as regards Sunday time, whether we were behind the general practice, and the matter is now receiving consideration. As regards ordinary overtime, the scale as recommended to us by the Committee on Production gives time and a quarter for the first two hours, and then time and a half. But it is fair to add that this time and a quarter commences after the daily hours of a 48-hour week, as against the daily hours of a week outside which run into as many as 54 hours in certain cases.
§ Mr. ANDERSONIf the right hon. Gentleman does find that he has fallen behind other employers in regard to this question of double time for Sundays, will he give the matter his careful—and immediate—attention?
§ Dr. MACNAMARACertainly; we must be good employers! At the same time, we should certainly repeat the injunction we have again, again, and again put forward, that, whatever the rate may be, except in matters of great urgency, Sunday labour must be discouraged.
§ Mr. J. MASONDoes not the Admiralty pay overtime rates in many cases where the man, or men, has not worked an ordinary full day?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAOh, no; I do not think that is so; but if my hon. Friend can give me a case I shall be very glad to have it and to inquire.
§ Mr. C. DUNCANWho is looking into the question of double time—a special committee of the Admiralty itself?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe Admiralty itself. My hon. Friend opposite (Mr. J. Mason) asked about double time. Perhaps I may be allowed to correct myself in the answer I gave. He referred to outside shipyards, not Admiralty yards? My answer applied to Royal dockyards, not outside firms.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThen I must correct myself. It is the fact, and always has been, that in private shipyards overtime is paid whether or not an ordinary week has been worked by the man.
§ Mr. MASONDoes not my right hon. Friend consider it desirable that this very improper practice should be discontinued?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMy hon. Friend is chairman of a Sub-committee of the National Expenditure Committee which is inquiring into our expenditure. He knows the reply we have made to that point.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWhether we never pay overtime till the ordinary full week has been worked? I cannot say.