4. Mr. PONSONBYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether representations have been received from the Workers' Union with regard to the reduction from 7½. to 6d. per hour in the rate of wages for labourers (local entrants) at the naval base at Rosyth; and what decision has been come to by the Admiralty on this question?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)Representations of the kind referred to have been received. There has, however, been no such reduction in wages as suggested in my hon. Friend's question. The representations made have reference to the fact that in the early days of the War, when the dockyard rate for labourers was 24s. a week, the rate at Rosyth was raised to 30s. a week, to conform to the rate paid locally by the construction works contractors. Having granted wages on the basis stated, the Admiralty have not seen their way to granting, in addition, the whole of the War increases in wages subsequently allowed for workmen in the shipbuilding and engineering trades; but the men affected are in no case paid less than the 3396 full rates ordinarily paid to labourers in the dockyards, including the whole of the war increases granted to workmen in the shipbuilding and engineering trades, as well as the 12½ per cent.