§ 34. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that under a recent Admiralty order those crane-drivers, engine-drivers, etc., who are required by the nature of their work to be in the dockyard, sometimes as early as five o'clock in the morning, in order to get ready for the work of the day are no longer paid overtime but have to take a compulsory holiday without pay to make up for the extra time worked, an arrangement which compels them to work many hours longer than other men without receiving any pay at all, the only extra remuneration given being the quarter-hours of the hour and a quarter; that this change is causing universal dissatisfaction; and can he see his way to revert to the old arrangement whereby these men were paid overtime for the extra hours worked?
§ Commander EYRES-MONSELLThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. This arrangement was made on the initiative of the trade union side of the Industrial Council, who have now asked that the question may be reconsidered. This is now being done.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKECan the hon. Gentleman say if the Admiralty fully appreciate that that account is entirely wrong?