§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can make any announcement as to the policy of his Department in the matter of reducing the period of apprenticeship in His Majesty's dockyards and naval establishments?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAOrders have recently been issued to the effect that in future the period of apprenticeship is to556W be reduced from six years to five years. The scale of pay has also been raised as follows:
Old scale: 4s., 6s., 8s., 10s., 12s., and 15s. weekly rates, year by year.
New scale: 6s., 8s., 10s., 14s., and 20s. weekly rates, year by year.
The apprentices at present serving will benefit by the change in scale by being paid 20s. in place of 15s. for the sixth year, and 14s. in place of 12s. for the fifth year of their apprenticeship.