HC Deb 05 August 1919 vol 119 cc212-3W
Mr. LLOYD

asked the Minister of Labour if, taking into consideration the demand for shipping space, he will take immediate steps to ascertain the reason for the refusal of certain trade unions in the Bristol Channel to allow their members to work overtime; and if there is any credence in the suggestion that in certain trades the high wages paid for day-work are responsible?

Mr. WARDLE

I understand that the engineers in this area made a claim for a rate of £5 per week. Differences arose at the conference held to discuss the claim, and the question was postponed. In consequence an embargo upon overtime was instituted by the union until their claim was disposed of. A further conference has been arranged for 12th August on condition that the embargo is removed. As regards the last part of the question, I think it is impossible to attribute the reluctance to work overtime to any one particular cause.

Mr. LLOYD

asked the Minister of Labour if he can state the average wage and number of working hours per week in the Bristol Channel of boilermakers, shipwrights, and engineers engaged in ship-repair work, exclusive and inclusive of overtime, for the past two years; if he will state the maximum and minimum wage drawn in each trade; and if he can state whether the statistics of earnings prepared by the Bristol Channel Dry dock and Ship Repairers' Association are correct?

Mr. WARDLE

There are no official statistics available as to the weekly earnings of these classes of workpeople during the last two years or as to the number of hours actually worked. I am unable, therefore, to supply the information required or to express an opinion as to the accuracy of unofficial statistics on this subject.