Lieut.-Colonel THORNEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware of the discontent at the Royal Naval Mining Depot, Grangemouth, on account of the Admiralty reducing the pay of the skilled labourers; that the chief of the depot in question has given a number of men a week's notice to terminate their services as skilled labourers, and that they have been informed that they can be taken on as labourers at reduced pay; and that the order in question is a violation of the Statutory Rules and Orders, No. 514, 1919?
§ Mr. LONGThe facts are as stated in the second part of the hon. Member's question. The men in question were formerly rated and paid as skilled labourers. Owing to the reduction in the amount of "skilled" work, it was not possible to continue to employ them as skilled labourers. Employment could, however, be found for the men as ordinary labourers, and they have accordingly been offered further employment in this capacity. There is no infraction of the Wages (Temporary Regulation) Act, inasmuch as there has been no reduction in the rate for any class of employés; nor is any man paid at a lower rate than the prescribed rate for the class in which he is employed.