HC Deb 01 December 1937 vol 329 cc2054-5
26. Mr. Robert Gibson

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Greenock Royal Infirmary rendered services to the value of £1,350 17s. 6d. on behalf of persons employed at the Royal Naval Torpedo Factory, Greenock, during the year to 31st October, 1937; that during that period only £550 was allocated from the hospitals fund of the torpedo factory to the Greenock Royal Infirmary; that the smallness of this contribution is a cause of misgiving to the workers and is due to the fact that arrangements have not yet been made for deductions from the wages of unestablished workers at the torpedo factory for the hospitals fund; and whether he is now in a position to say when such deductions will commence?

Mr. Cooper

As the moneys received by the hospital and local charities fund of the Royal Naval Torpedo Factory are distributed locally and without reference to the Admiralty, I was unaware of the figures mentioned in the question. The Admiralty cannot apply to the Greenock Torpedo Factory a different procedure from that observed in similar establishments elsewhere. Until, therefore, the general question of a scheme of deductions from pay for hospital purposes is settled, it will not be possible to grant such facilities to the workpeople at Greenock.

Mr. Gibson

Would the First Lord say when a settlement will be arrived at, as I was informed by the Minister in July that the matter was under consideration?

Mr. Cooper

I hope that a decision will be reached in the near future, but the hon. and learned Gentleman will recognise that it depends mainly, if not entirely, on the evidence.

Mr. George Griffiths

Why do you not stop the levy out of their wages, as they have agreed to it?