HC Deb 20 February 1929 vol 225 cc1104-5
20. Sir BERTRAM FALLE

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any changes are contemplated in the organisation and duties of the wages and expense accounts sections of His Majesty's Dockyard, Portsmouth; whether he is aware that the clerks in the wages section are pensioners from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines; whether it is the intention to abolish these posts and substitute women clerks; and, if so, whether he will consider whether the same number of clerkships can be given to pensioners in other departments?

Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAM

Steps are being taken to introduce a revised system of accounting in His Majesty's Dockyard. Portsmouth, including a new method of making up wages, which supersedes a more eleborate system on which pensioner clerks have been to a large extent employed. The new method is suited to a different class of labour and partly to the use of machines, and it is, therefore, proposed to employ women clerks upon it. This reorganisation will render redundant a number of the pensioner clerks now employed in the cashier's office, but it is the intention to employ them on other work until they can be reabsorbed in that office. In departments of the yard other than those concerned with cash and secretarial work, the staffs are composed of the departmental clerical class, and it is not considered practicable to introduce pensioner clerks into them.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether this applies to Portsmouth only, or whether it is intended to apply at other places as well?

Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAM

We are trying out the new system at Portsmouth, and if it is proved to be satisfactory, we shall no doubt extend it.

Mr. KELLY

Are we to understand that the positions to which the pensioner clerks are to be moved will not mean a lowering of their status?

Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAM

I do not think there is any intention of lowering their status.