§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has had any complaints from the camp at Old Kilpatrick regarding the quantity of food served out to the Labour 732W Battalion stationed there, and also regarding the conditions under which the men have to sleep and the lack of medical attention; whether these men are paid at the value of 2d. per hour, though they were recruited as skilled men and then turned to unskilled work, in which their special qualifications are of no value, but are being wasted to the country; and whether he will have inquiries made and remedies applied?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs these men are Royal Marine Engineers, I have been asked to reply to this question. No complaints have been received by us regarding either the quantity of food or the conditions of the camp generally, but I am making inquiries on these points. A naval medical officer has been appointed, but on the first formation of the camp there was no one available, and the Officer Commanding was instructed to call in the local practitioners if necessary. The men employed at this camp were recruited as unskilled workmen, and are paid at pioneer rates, namely, 1s. 2d. a day, plus 6d. a day engineer's pay. They draw the usual allowance, namely, rations, supplemented by 6½d. a day in cash, to be spent at the option of the men They also, of course, receive separation allowance at Army rates. The men in question are employed on work of national importance, but unless they have been wrongly described as unskilled men when enlisted, they are not being wastefully employed in any respect. I will, however, have inquiries made on this point.