§ Mr. FIELDasked the Secretary of State for War whether the inquiry made regarding the wages paid to the tailor employed at Island Bridge is yet complete?
§ Mr. HALDANEInquiries have been made as regards the tailor, and his wages are considered adequate.
§ Mr. FIELDasked the Secretary of State for War if any action has been taken respecting the employment at Island Bridge of leading men as assistant foremen and storehouse clerks; whether at Island Bridge assistant foremen are performing the duties of foremen and workshop foremen; and whether, in the interests of the public service, he will see that increased responsibility shall not be placed on assistant foremen?
§ Mr. HALDANEAs regards the employment of leading hands as assistant foremen, one leading hand was so employed in anticipation of a proposed augmentation of that grade by one, which has since been approved. The other leading hands are not strictly employed as assistant foremen, but, being next senior to the foreman in their groups, act for them during temporary absence. It is expected that they should perform such temporary duty without extra pay to qualify them for and justify their promotion to assistant foreman when vacancies occur. As I informed the hon. Member previously, there is no grade of storehouse clerk at stations other than Woolwich and Pimlico. As regards the further question of the performance of360W the duties of foremen and workshop foremen by assistant foremen, I am making inquiries.