§ 23. Mr. RAPERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what was the reason for issuing Admiralty Order A.G. 17, offering a very considerable amount of overtime work, when over 300 ex-service men, including disabled men, are being dismissed from the Ministry?
§ Mr. AMERYThe work in question is not permanent, but only of a periodically recurrent nature connected with the quarterly payment of pensions to seamen and marines. As the necessary additional accommodation and supervision cannot be provided during the normal working day, it is economical for this recurrent work to be carried out at piece-work rates of pay after office hours. I might add that the number of ex-service men under notice is 145.
§ Mr. RAPERIs it not the fact that, although the work is quarterly, the notice itself states that there will be at least 70 to 80 hours' overtime per person? That must necessarily be spread over a long period.
§ Mr. AMERYI agree that it will be spread over several weeks in each quarter, but it is not continuous work.