§ Mr. CROOKSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why the order issued by the Admiralty in November last, namely, that overtime in the Royal dockyards was to be limited to ten hours per week, while being adhered to in the case of the engine fitters, was broken in the boiler-making department at Sheerness Dockyard in the repairing of His Majesty's Ship "Halcyon," which was just an ordinary job and did not come within the proviso of wreck or collison; and will he see that the overtime regulations are carried out by all grades?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe order referred to by my hon. Friend contains the following instructions: "In future overtime is not to be worked on the building, refitting, repairing, etc., of His Majesty's Ships unless there be exceptional circumstances rendering overtime absolutely necessary, in which case the special authority of the Admiralty is to be obtained on each occasion. In the event of it becoming essential to work overtime on any urgent job or service, such overtime is to be restricted to ten hours a week per man, unless the matter be of such great urgency and importance that it is absolutely impossible to observe this limitation; further, overtime is not to be worked on Saturdays if it can possibly be avoided." In view of the date by which it was considered desirable to complete the "Halcyon" for service, the approval of the Admiralty was given to the working of overtime in excess of ten hours a week. It was subsequently considered unnecessary to adhere to the original date, and the overtime was immediately reduced in the case of the fitters. In the case of the boilermakers the excess overtime does not appear to have been reduced till three days later, and further instructions will be issued in regard to the matter.