§ 14. Mr. KENNEDYasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that up till September last the painters employed in the Gretna factory were classed as skilled workmen and received the Carlisle painters' rate of wages; that now the painters are the only class of skilled workmen in Gretna factory who are not receiving the skilled rate for the district; and whether he will take steps to rectify this matter?
Mr. YOUNGI have been asked to answer this question. The wages of painters and Various other employés at Gretna were altered in September last to bring them into accord with the rates understood to obtain for the nearest comparable employé in private engineering establishments in the Carlisle district, and the change in the case of painters was approximately the same as in the case of other employés at the factory. I am not aware that the men in question have ever been treated as fully skilled workmen entitled to the rates of wages obtaining for skilled workmen employed under building trade conditions. If the hon. Member has any reason for thinking that the rates of any of the men concerned are less than "fair" within the meaning of the "Fair Wages Resolution," I should be glad to make further enquiries if he will acquaint me with the details of any case that he may have in mind.