§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the dredgermen, looking to their work and the time they are employed, are the worst paid men in the dockyard; whether he will inquire into their case with a view of increasing their pay and position; whether the Admiralty have received the petition relative to the rates of pay of skilled and unskilled workmen in His Majesty's dockyards in comparison with private dockyards; and, if so, when a reply may be expected: whether the Admiralty have received a petition from the hired workmen in the dockyards with regard to establishment; and, if so, whether they will formulate a reply; what steps he intends to take with regard to the establishment in the dockyards; and if he intends to make it common to all departments employed?
§ Mr. McKENNA:Petitions which have been received from dredgermen are now under consideration. Petitions relative to the rates of pay of skilled and unskilled workmen in His Majesty's dockyards are received by the Admiralty every year. As stated in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Dundee on 1st March, and repeated in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Chatham on 10th March, it is hoped that it will be possible to issue the answers to the petitions received last year about the middle of April. The petition presented in the name of the hired workmen will be answered at the same time as the other petitions. Steps are being taken in connection with the resumption of the establishment, but it is undesirable to state at present what they are.