§ Mr. McENTEEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that no adjustment has yet been made in the case of the building trades operatives employed at the Enfield small arms factory and the Waltham Abbey gunpowder factory consequent on the extension of the London radius in February, 1920, although repeated applications have been made for the increase of wages due to the men as a consequence of the radius extension, and replies have been sent to the men concerned on several occasions during the past two years promising an early consideration of the matter; and whether he will now agree that the operatives concerned shall be treated in the same way as similar operatives working at Woolwich Arsenal?
§ Lieut.-Colonel JACKSONYes, Sir; the latest phase of this complicated question is that a representative of the men in question was informed a month ago that if an application was made through the proper channel for an advance equivalent to the advance in local rates due to the inclusion of Waltham and Enfield in the London building trade area, it would be favourably considered, as a temporary adjustment pending settlement of the other questions in dispute, the consideration of which is proceeding. For some reason which I do not understand, the men have not availed themselves of this opportunity.