§ 18. Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the hosemakers who served an apprenticeship at their trade and are entering Government employ have to pass a trade test as other mechanics; and will he consider giving them the same recognition as regards pay as other mechanics?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe pay of the hosemakers is regulated with regard to the class of work they perform and the degree of skill required. My hon. Friend will recognise it to be reasonable that a workman entered for a particular class of work should undergo a test of his qualifications to perform that work; but this does not afford any ground for placing hosemakers on the same rates of pay as are paid to mechanics of the shipbuilding and engineering trades, which, I may mention, vary for different trades.