§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the dredgermen, looking to their work and the time they are employed, are the worst paid men in the dockyard; whether he will inquire into their case with a view of increasing their pay and position; whether the Admiralty have received the petition relative to the rates of pay of skilled and unskilled workmen in His Majesty's dockyards in comparison with private dockyards; and, if so, when a 913W reply may be expected; whether the Admiralty have received a petition from the hired workmen in the dockyards with regard to establishment; and, if so, whether they will formulate a reply; what steps he intends to take with regard to the establishment in the dockyards; and if he intends to make it common to all departments employed.
§ Mr. McKENNA:Reference to the Royal Dockyards will be necessary before an answer can be given to the Noble Lord's question, but the reply will be circulated with the printed Answers to Questions as soon as possible.