§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into the pay and position of the carpenters and shipwrights in the Royal Navy has reported; and, if so, whether the Report can be communicated to the House?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe Committee have very nearly completed their inquiry, and will report shortly. I cannot reply to the last part of the question until the Report has been considered by the Board of Admiralty.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what percentage of shipwright chargemen in the Royal yards are to receive the increase of 6d. per day; and whether it is proposed that the chargemen of other trades are to receive the increase in the same proportion as the shipwrights?
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§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe question of the number of additional chargemen of trades to receive the higher charge pay of 9s. a week is under consideration.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Government to extend the concessions recently granted to charge-men of trades to the chargemen of labourers in the Royal dockyards?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe special rate of charge pay, namely 9s. a week, is already payable to chargemen of labourers employed on important duties. The number of men receiving this special rate may be extended on the recommendation of the yard officers.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the minimum wage for unskilled labour in the Royal Dockyard, Devonport, is 22s., and that the minimum wage for the same class of labour in His Majesty's Gun Wharf, Devonport, is only 21s.; whether he can give any reason for this disparity; and whether he will consider the question of levelling up so that the minimum wage may be the same in both cases?
§ Mr. HAROLD BAKERThis question has been under consideration for some little time. A decision will be given shortly.