§ Colonel Baldwin-Webbasked the Secretary of State for Air the different wages of the Air Ministry contract employéps at Cosford, Shropshire; whether he will investigate the complaint that some of them only receive £2 6s. 5d. a week, out of which they have to pay 4s. train or omnibus fare; and whether these rates are the same for other Ministry work of a similar type at other camps?
§ Sir K. WoodThe wages of Air Ministry employés at Cosford are as follow:
Skilled labour: From 69s. to 73s. for a week of 48 hours, according to trade.
Semi-skilled labour: From 49s. to 60s. for a week of 48 hours, according to grade.
Unskilled labour: 48s. for a week of 48 hours.
After deduction of the statutory insurance contributions an unskilled labourer receives £2 6s. 5d. a week. The rates paid at Cosford and at all Air Ministry outstations are in accordance with the requirements of the Fair Wages Resolution and vary according to the prevailing 612W recognised rates in the district for comparable labour. I should add that the Air Ministry at present bears the cost of travelling in excess of 3s. a week over the rail routes between Cosford and Wolverhampton and Cosford and Wellington.