§ Lord C. BERESFORDasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that the seamen and firemen employed by contractors whose vessels are chartered by the War Department, engaged on examination service, are in receipt of £2 10s. per week with uniform, whereas the men employed upon War Department vessels are only in receipt of 27s. per week without uniform; whether he is aware that no holiday was given to the men employed in War Department vessels as in other Departments, or no time or pay in lieu; whether he is aware that, from the 1st to the 30th April, 1915, men in the War Department vessels worked a large number of hours per week with a maximum of overtime pay of 6s. 1493W per week; whether he is aware that, with few exceptions, no increase of pay has been given to the crews of War Department vessels for the past thirteen years; and whether, in view of the discontent now existing amongst the crews of War Department vessels, he is prepared to submit their case to the arbitrator appointed on the Committee of Production?
Mr. BAKERAlthough I do not accept all the figures in the Noble Lord's question as correct, the suggestion that some additional payment is called for in the case of the crews of the War Department vessels now engaged on examination work deserves consideration, and I will see that it receives it without delay.