66. Mr. PALMERasked the Secretary of State for War in what circumstances clerical labourers in the Royal Army Ordnance Services, Royal Arsenal and Dockyard, at Woolwich, are employed to the prejudice of the clerical staff known as writers; will he explain why the disparity of wages between £2 6s. per week for the former and £2 14s. 6d. per week for the latter obtains; and whether he will take steps to give equal pay for equal work?
§ Mr. WALSHI am not aware that the employment of labourers upon clerical duties in the storehouses of this depot operates to the prejudice of the writers employed in the establishment. The wage of the former class consists of the labourer's rate plus a regulated addition in respect of simple clerical duties. That of the writers, who are mainly engaged in the central office of the depot, is fixed 2116 upon a different set of considerations. As at present advised, I do not consider that the nature of the work of the two classes and the circumstances in which their duties are carried out are such as to justify an approximation of the pay rates. Under the recently announced improvement in the wages of certain industrial grades at the Royal Arsenal and Dockyard the figure of £2 6s. quoted becomes £2 9s.
§ Mr. WALSHI do not see that that arises out of the question at all. I am asked to explain the disparity in wages. I am not called upon to say whether I consider it a fair wage or not.