§ 25. Mr. NICHOLasked the Financial Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that the wage paid to adult labourers in 1737 the Royal Dockyard at Plymouth, including all bonuses, is 41s. per week; and, seeing that this does not constitute an adequate living wage for the breadwinner of a family under present conditions, is he prepared to increase this wage substantially?
§ Commander EYRES-MONSELLThe minimum rate of wages paid to labourers in His Majesty's Dockyard at Devonport is as stated by the hon. Member. The rate compares with 37s. 6d. paid in the commercial industries with which the dockyards are commonly compared, and it is not proposed to increase it.
§ Mr. NICHOLDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that that is a living wage? Is he going to take the standard set up by private enterprise as the national idea of what a living wage should be?