§ 12. Sir THOMAS BRAMSDONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that in the minutes of the meeting of the canteen representatives, held on 22nd July last, in connection with the closing down of the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes' laundry in His Majesty's Ship "Assistance," a statement occurs to the effect that efforts had been made to economise by reducing the civilian staff 1872 and employing some service labour in lieu, but it still had not paid; whether such employment was authorised by the naval authorities; under what Vote are ratings so employed paid; and whether the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes are making use of service labour in any other direction?
§ Mr. AMERYThe answers to the first two parts of this question are in the affirmative. As the detailed circumstances with regard to the temporary employment of certain naval ratings in the laundry in His Majesty's Ship "Assistance" necessitate a somewhat lengthy statement, I propose, with my hon. Friend's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT, I might say at once, however, that the Navy, Army, and Air Force institutes are not making use of service labour in any other direction.
Following is the statement:
The facts are as follow: Laundries are fitted by the Admiralty on board a few of His Majesty's ships as part of their working organisation. The laundry in His Majesty's Ship "Assistance" was installed for the use of the Atlantic Fleet generally when cruising, and, as a matter of convenience, the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes were employed to run it. Owing to the conditions of the employment of His Majesty's Ship "Assistance," the laundry could not be conducted except at a loss; and in order to prevent the laundry closing down prior to the Atlantic Fleet proceeding on her spring cruise of 1921, the experiment was authorised by the local naval authorities of using a certain amount of service labour in the laundry, augmented by expert civilian laundry staff, the latter being provided by the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes. The naval ratings employed received remuneration over and above their naval nay from the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes at the rate of from 10s. to £1 a week for the work done by them in the laundry. The laundry still did not pay its way, and the arrangement with the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes was terminated in May, 1921. As regards the third part of the question, naval ratings are paid out of Vote 1 of the Navy Estimates. As regards the fourth part, it has been ascertained that the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes are not making use of naval service labour in any other direction.