§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the implications for the civilian industrial and non-industrial staff in Royal Naval dockyards of the current developments in the Fleet maintenance units.
§ Mr. BuckThere are no plans to alter the existing allocation of the upkeep task between dockyard employees and uniformed personnel of the Fleet maintenance groups. These groups undertake first-line maintenance and are essentially extensions of ships' staffs performing work that is within the skills and capabilities of Royal Navy personnel. Changes in the composition of the Fleet and the144W increasing complexity of ships equipments are requiring some expansion of the groups, particularly at Devonport and Portsmouth, for the continued accomplishment of this maintenance task. Dockyard employees are being kept fully informed on the rôle of the Fleet maintenance groups.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the current average number of industrial workers per available hand basin, first, in workshops or factories and, secondly, in amenity centres for workers in ships in each of the four Royal Naval dockyards in Great Britain; whether he will publish the relevant figures after the completion of currently approved development plans; and whether he will make a statement on the plans and timetable for general improvements in lavatory, washing, eating and resting amenities for workers in these dockyards.
§ Mr. BuckAt present the scale and type of washing facilities vary considerably in different parts of the dockyards. The current overall average figures are not available but even if they were they would be likely to be misleading particularly as they would not reflect the differing needs according to the type of work on which the men are employed.
Where the facilities are inadequate they are being brought up to modern standards broadly in line with the following scales:
Number of Basins First 100 men Each 100 men thereafter Clean conditions 5 4 Average conditions 7½ 6 Dirty conditions 10 8 I am giving information on amenity improvements in the dockyards in my reply to a further Question by the hon. Member today.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of improvement costs to the Semaphore Tower in Portsmouth Royal Naval Dockyard and the total cost of constructing the nearby new landing stage since work was originally started on it.
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§ Mr. BuckThe cost of improvements to the Semaphore Tower was £55,800. The total cost of constructing the new landing stage was £950.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the total expenditure on amenity improvement in each of the four British Royal Naval dockyards during the past financial year and of all authorised future expenditure in this respect.
§ Mr. BuckThe table below shows the expenditure in 1972–73 and authorised future expenditure on amenity improvements in Her Majesty's dockyards in the United Kingdom. The figures cover new toilets, ablutions, canteen and messing facilities, clothes lockers and drying facilities, covered tool box stowage and other improvements to working conditions generally which are being incorporated in the various modernisation projects.
Expenditure in 1972–73 Authorised future expenditure £ £ Portsmouth 317,000 1,580,000 Devonport 81,000 3,800,000 Chatham 137,000 125,000 Rosyth 75,000 440,000
§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the proposed expenditure within Portsmouth Royal Naval Dockyard on improved amenities for visitors on their way to and from HMS "Victory".
§ Mr. BuckExpenditure on improving these amenities is expected to be about £80,000. This includes the provision of colonnades, walkways and display areas—£60,000; staff accommodation—£8,500, and public toilets—£3,000.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will undertake a special review of the wages and salary structure for civilian industrial and non-industrial staff in Royal Naval dockyards and other defence establishments in relation to such structures in private shipyards and other firms undertaking contract work for the Ministry of Defence.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourThe general pay structures for civilian industrial and non-146W industrial staff employed by the Ministry of Defence are those which apply to the Civil Service as a whole, and are negotiated centrally in accordance with agreed procedures. No special arrangements for reviewing them are, therefore, required. Studies are, however, currently being undertaken of the pay arrangements for industrial employees in the Royal Naval dockyards where, in addition to basic pay, remuneration includes bonuses payable under productivity and payment-by-results schemes. It is too early to forecast the outcome of these studies.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the implications for amenity improvements for civilian workers in Royal Naval dockyards and other defence establishments of the recent decision by the Government to curb expenditure on defence.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourDetails of the defence measures to be taken are still being worked out but amenity improvements for civilian workers are not likely to be significantly affected.