§ Mr. WATTasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Director of Contracts asked some months ago the sub-contractors on the Clyde to send in particulars of their claims for the increased wages paid by them to their workers under the instructions of the Committee of Production, that these have in all instances been sent in, and that repeated applications for the payment of these has been made to the Admiralty by the contractors without success; and if he will say when it is proposed that the money overdue will be forwarded to them?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe Admiralty has no evidence whatever to show that subcontractors on the Clyde as a whole are dissatisfied with the decisions of the Admiralty regarding the necessarily difficult948W adjustments of price entailed by awards of higher wages. The implication that repeated applications have been made for payment of all the claims in question without any success is not in accordance with the facts. During the last fifteen months at least very large numbers of claims have been received, examined, and paid. Against other claims which require investigation in the public interest, advance payments have been made. In these circumstances I should be glad if my hon. and learned Friend would furnish me with details as regards any money considered to be overdue, indicating the name of the contractor and the nature of the sub-contract. On receipt of these particulars immediate steps will be taken to investigate the statement as to overdue payments.