§ 12. Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Minister of Labour if he will state the minimum weekly wage for a labourer at Her Majesty's Naval Base, Portland, and the minimum weekly wage for a London worker employed in a civilian dockyard, respectively.
§ Mr. ThorntonThe minimum weekly wage for a labourer at Her Majesty's Naval Base, Portland is £10 8s. for a week of 42 hours. The minimum weekly wage for a London worker employed in a civilian shipyard is £9 11 s. for a week of 41 hours, but, in addition a compensatory payment of 15s. a week is made to workers on plain time rates who have had no payments by results, incentive payments or bonuses.
§ Mr. KingWill the Parliamentary Secretary agree that when the various complications are taken into account there is a very large discrepancy between the amounts actually earned in London and those earned in Dorset and that this ought to be remedied? Does not he agree that this particular case can only be remedied by the Government who directly employ these men? May we hope that they will do something about it?
§ Mr. ThorntonOn the latter part of the supplementary question, it will be a matter for the employer on the one hand and the trade unions who represent the men on the other. The difference in the minimum weekly wage between the two places which the hon. Member mentioned is only about 1½ per cent.