§ 10. Mr. W. THORNEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any alteration has been made in the daily rate of subsistence allowance and travelling expenses in respect to the Royal Naval Ordnance inspectors at Woolwich Arsenal during the past two years whether he has received an application for the abolition of reduced allowance after the expiration of three months' detached duty, the free distribution of rule books, and payments for travelling 1719 with gauges and stores to and from the Royal Arsenal; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Lieut.-Colonel Headlam)No such alteration as that referred to in the first part of the question has been made. Applications have been received for the subsistence allowance granted to examiners on account of expenses for the first three months of duty away from Woolwich to be paid, instead of assessed extra expenses, after the first three months of absent duty, and for overtime payments to be allowed when examiners travelling to and from their duties have gauges and stores in their possession; these applications have not been, and are not proposed to be, allowed. Inquiries have been received concerning a booklet called the Workmen's Handbook; this booklet was prepared at the request of, and has been distributed by, the Trade Union side of the Admiralty Joint Industrial Council.
§ Mr. THORNEDoes not the hon. Gentleman recognise the great hardship under which these inspectors are suffering, owing to the fact that, when they are away for three months, they lose something like 14s. a week, apart from the extra expense which they have to bear?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI do not recognise the hardship at all. Perhaps if the hon. Member speaks to me about it, he may be able to make it clearer to me than it is at present.