Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that labourer G. Cheeseman, employed at the Chatham Dockyard, who was paid for a period of twenty-six weeks the skilled labourers' rate, 22s. a week, is now being compelled to refund at the rate of 5s. a week the difference between the skilled rate and the ordinary labourers' rate, 21s. a week, because he was paid the skilled rate in mistake; and whether he will inquire into the matter with a view to preventing the penalising of this man for a mistake for which he was not responsible?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe facts are as stated in the question of my hon. Friend. I am afraid I cannot take the view that the recovery of an overpayment is correctly described as "penalising." But having regard to the proportion which five shillings represents of the man's weekly rate of pay, instructions have been issued to reduce the rate of refund to one shilling a week.