§ Mr. R. MCNEILLasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that when the pensions scheme for foremen writers was accepted by them fifteen years ago it was stipulated that all regular overtime should be remunerated, and that nevertheless three hours per week is deducted from any overtime worked before any pay is granted, although this condition was abolished in the case of all other foremen in August, 1916; whether the effect of the arrangement in force is that a foreman receives no pay for overtime unless he has worked at least six hours overtime in the week; whether women are at present employed as clerks at Dover whose hours of work do not coincide with those of the labour establishment, thereby necessitating work by foremen writers for one and a quarter hours per week, in addition to three and half hours on Saturdays, making a total of four and three-quarter hours per week, for which they receive no pay; and if he will take steps to remedy this grievance by having payment made to foremen writers for all overtime actually worked, without any such deduction as is complained of?
975W
§ Mr. FORSTERThe stipulation made on the introduction of the pension scheme was the exact contrary of that suggested in the question. The claim to pay for overtime was surrendered in consideration of the grant of pension. A special concession is made during the war pressure in the shape of a payment when overtime exceeds six hours a week. The same condition holds good for other foremen. Both foremen writers and writers are at all times liable to complete forty-five hours in the week before overtime accrues, though, when the state of work admits, their normal hours are forty-two per week. I am not aware of any exceptional conditions at Dover.
§ Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office why the foremen writers at Dover are not receiving the war bonus of 5s. now being paid to other foremen there; why Foreman W. J. MacLaren, who was originally a Woolwich foreman, is not receiving the bonus, although he is still being paid at Woolwich rates, and all Woolwich foremen have received the bonus since the 1st April, 1917; and if he will give instructions for the bonus to be paid, with arrears as from the 1st April, to Foreman MacLaren and, with 976W arrears as from the 1st June, to all foremen writers at Dover?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe 5s. bonus to which my hon. Friend refers does not apply to clerical classes. Instructions were issued on the 7th instant granting a war bonus to those classes, including foremen writers at Dover and other out-stations, with effect from the 1st January last.