§ 12. Sir B. FALLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that considerable delay occurs in the payment of bonuses granted to dockyard workmen who are discharged after 10 years' service; and whether he will take steps to remove the causes of delay?
Mr. ALEXANDERI am not clear as to the precise cases of men discharged after 10 years' service to which the hon. 2173 and gallant Member refers. Hired dockyard employés are eligible for gratuities under the Superannuation Acts after seven years if discharged on reduction, and after 15 years if discharged on account of age or infirmity, and these are normally paid without unnecessary delay. The recent transfer of 7s. a week from industrial bonus to substantive pay, however, has given rise to difficulties as to the correct method of calculating superannuation awards in certain cases. These difficulties, I am glad to say, are now in course of being surmounted, and I hope that it may shortly be possible to issue full awards to the men affected, the majority of whom have already received substantial advances, in accordance with the usual practice when final awards are delayed. Should there be any cases of apparent delay still outstanding I shall be glad to inquire further into them if I can be furnished with full particulars.