§ 80. Mr. W. ASTORasked the First Commissioner of Works whether be will indicate the reasons why the rates of wages and the conditions of employment of the Department's industrial staff employed in the Royal Parks and in Brompton Cemetery are considerably less favourable than those enjoyed by men employed on similar work under the Metropolitan Borough Councils; and whether he will consider making some improvement in those rates and conditions?
§ The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)The rates of pay at present obtained in the Royal Parks were laid down by the Industrial Court in June, 1931, and those at Brompton Cemetery were modified later in the light of that award. I am not aware that there has been any change of circumstances since then which would warrant an improvement in these rates. The policy of my Department, following that adopted by successive Governments, is to pay the rates generally paid by good employers for comparable work in the same area. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the present rates of pay in the Royal Parks and Brompton Cemetery.
§ Mr. THORNEDoes this question only apply to the grave diggers in the cemetery?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORENo. I understand that at Brompton Cemetery the ordinary labourers receive 49s. 10d. and assistant propagators 52s. 11d. and grave diggers and stone removers 55s. 9d.
§ Following are the particulars:
§ The present rates of pay in the Royal Parks and Brompton Cemetery are as follow:
| — | London. | Outer London. | ||
| Per week. | Per week | |||
| Royal Parks. | s. | d. | s. | d. |
| Labourers | 49 | 10 | 46 | 9 |
| Leading Men | 52 | 11 | 49 | 10 |
| Propagators— | ||||
| Hyde Park | 70 | 3 | — | |
| Regent's Park | 65 | 6 | — | |
| Hampton Court | — | 65 | 6 | |
| Assistant Propagators | 52 | 11 | 49 | 10 |
| Artificers | 52 | 11 | 49 | 10 |
| to | to | |||
| 61 | 5 | 59 | 0 | |
| Brompton Cemetery. | ||||
| Labourers | 49 | 10 | ||
| Assistant Propagator | 52 | 11 | ||
| Grave Diggers and Stone Removers. | 55 | 9 |