§ Sir G. TOULMINasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether be he has received a report as to the employment of soldiers at the Greenside lead mine, Glenrydding-on-Ullswater; and whether he can now give particulars as to the number originally employed, the number who requested to be removed and the reason, and the original and amended rates of pay to the soldiers and to the j ordinary workmen?
1630W
§ Mr. FORSTERInquiries have been made, and I find that forty-five men in all have been released for work at this mine, of whom ten are now employed there. The majority of those not now employed have been transferred to other work or returned to their units as being unsuitable or inefficient. One man is stated to have asked to be released because he was not contented with his earnings. It is a condition of employment that the employers pay the rates of pay current in the district. The soldier receives this, less a deduction to cover the Army emoluments he also receives. If particulars are furnished of any apparent violation of this rule, I will inquire further.