§ 83. Mr. DUNCANasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a petition on behalf of the locally-entered clerical staff employed at His Majesty's Dockyard, Gibraltar, was sent to his Department through the Vice-Admiral in January, 1920, dealing with a revision of rates of pay and the general conditions of service, comprising status, promotion, establishment, etc.; that in October, 1924, two Treasury officials were sent to Gibraltar to make inquiries into the matter; whether he will make inquiry to ascertain whether any Report has yet been made by the officials above-mentioned; if so, whether any conclusion has yet been come to, as the whole matter has been now under consideration for four years; and whether there is likely to be any decision in the near future on a question affecting the welfare of this section of Government employés?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Davidson)Representations on behalf of locally- 600 entered clerical staffs employed at His Majesty's Dockyards, not only at Gibraltar, but at other foreign yards, have been received from time to time in recent-years and have been taken into consideration in connection with the many questions requiring settlement after the War. An Admiralty official, accompanied by a Treasury officer, visited His Majesty's Dockyards at Gibraltar and Malta in November-December last and discussed various questions with the local officers, including that referred to by the hon. Member. The matter is now under consideration, and it is hoped that particulars of the proposed scheme of recruitment conditions of service and pay of the locally-entered clerical staffs at these two dockyards will be available shortly.
§ Mr. DUNCANCan the hon. Gentleman say how long it will be before those particulars are available?
Mr. DAVIDSONI cannot give a definite undertaking, but I will do everything I can to speed up the matter.