§ Mr. O'GRADYasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether it had come to his notice that, concerning the wages claim of the workpeople at the Army Ordnance Department, Gloucester, an arbitration with regard to the wages of workpeople employed by the Ministry of Munitions in the same locality had been held; is he aware that Mr. Charles Doughty heard the parties on 10th February and issued his award on 12th February, granting the men a war bonus of 5s. per week and the women a war bonus of 3s. per week; and, as the rate of wages paid to the men by the Munitions Ministry is 8d. per hour, plus the bonus, and that paid by the Army Ordnance Department 7¾d. per hour, whether, having regard to these facts and the difference in wages, giving rise to dissatisfaction among the workers in the Ordnance De- 441W partment, steps will be taken to equalise the wages or instruct an arbitration to be held on the points at issue?
§ Mr. FORSTERIt is proposed to refer the matter to arbitration.