§ 57. Mr. Gallacherasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that splicers at the boom depot training school, Rosyth, are doing riggers work and training riggers for the new boom boats, while they themselves are drawing 19s. per week less than riggers or the men they are training; and whether he will consider classifying wire splicers as riggers, with a view to their receiving the recognised wages for the job they are performing?
§ The Civil Lord of the Admiralty (Colonel Llewellin)The men being trained by the wire splicers at Rosyth Boom Defence Depot are not riggers but skilled labourers. Wire splicers are not being employed on rigger's work and their rates of pay are considered appropriate to the duties which they are required to perform.
§ Mr. GallacherIs the Minister aware that this is the first time that I have heard this described as skilled labour. They are either skilled men, or they are not. If they are skilled men, is it not proper to see that they get wages commensurate with the work that they are doing?
§ Colonel LlewellinThere is a very large class of man employed in dockyards and other Admiralty establishments who are termed skilled labourers.
§ Colonel LlewellinThey are being taught duties appropriate to wire splicing.