§ Sir J. D. REESasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of workpeople, male and female, affected by the Liverpool dock scheme, the number of offices opened at the docks specially assigned to the scheme, giving the cost of 868W any new buildings and the rents paid; the average weekly amount collected from employers and workpeople in respect of contributions under the National Insurance Act for the first three months (up to 15th October); the average weekly payments for the same period made by employers to the Board of Trade towards the administration of the Act and the stamping of the w7orkepople's insurance cards; the number and status of, and the salaries paid to, the permanent staff engaged at the dock offices; the number of, and weekly salaries paid to, the temporary staff engaged at the dock offices; and the nature of the work performed?
Mr. BUXTONThe work performed under the Liverpool dock scheme includes the provision under the Labour Exchanges Act of Labour Exchanges facilities for the dock labour employed in the port of Liverpool, with the special object of improving and regularising the conditions of engagement of this class of labour, and also certain work undertaken on behalf and at the sole cost of the employers of such labour, namely, the clearance and payment of wages and the performance of the duties imposed by Part I. of the National Insurance Act. The number of workpeople affected by the Liverpool dock scheme is between 20,000 and 21,000. The number of offices opened at the docks, specially assigned to the scheme is six, together with twenty-eight "stands" for the engagement of labour. The provision of these offices and stands involved an initial expenditure of £15,813, with an annual rental of £1,288. The average weekly amount collected from employers and workpeople in respect of contributions under the National Insurance Act during the first three months was £526 and the average weekly payments by employers towards the cost of administration was £56 9s. 5d. The latter figures are reduced by the fact, that during part of the time the men employed at the Birkenhead Docks, numbering about 2,000, were on strike. The permanent staff consists of six managers, one at a salary of £250 rising to £350, and five at salaries of £150 rising to £200, an accountant at a salary of £200 rising to £300, and forty-six clerks at salaries of £60 with a maximum of £150. A temporary staff of thirty-one clerks and boys at salaries ranging from 10s. to 42s. per week is also engaged. In addition to these a number of clerks are engaged for making up pay sheets on one night of the week. I may add that it is part of the 869W arrangement, with the Liverpool shipowners that if the rate of average weekly payment by them proves insufficient to defray the whole of the cost of the services performed on their behalf it will be revised at the end of six months.