§ Mr. FORESTIER-WALKERasked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware of the concern and resentment of the members of the building trade in Chepstow at the employment of German labour in the construction of houses in Chepstow; and whether he will give an assurance that in no case will German labour be permitted to replace that of British?
§ Colonel L. WILSONI have been asked to reply to this question. The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative. The German prisoner labour at Chepstow is, I understand, likely to be withdrawn in the near future.
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§ Mr. FORESTIER-WALKERasked the secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the dimensions of the bedrooms of the A type of house erected at Chepstow, the cost of those houses, and the percentage of the cost paid in travelling money to the workmen employed; and the number of hours of work per week paid for, the number of hours paid for for travelling expenses per week per man, and the method of paying the building contractor?
§ Colonel L. WILSONI have been asked to answer this question. I am giving the particulars asked for in a statement which I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
The following is the statement referred to—
The dimensions of the three bedrooms in the "A" type house being erected at Chepstow are as follows:
Bedroom—
No. 1–16' 6"X7' 10½"=130 sq. ft. 1,040 cubic.
No. 2–10' 11½"X8' 1½"=89 sq. ft. 712 cubic.
No.3–8' 1½"X7' 11½"=65 sq. ft. 520 cubic.
I would point out that only forty-two of these houses are being built. The outside walls are 9 ins. thick, with a rendering of ¾ in. of cement outside.
The cost of the "A" type house, based on the total cost of the first block erected, and including contractor's profit, is £765. Approximately, 21 per cent. of this cost is due to travelling labour, the workmen being paid for twenty-one hours per week travelling time. Payment to the contractors is made on the actual sums expended by them, as certified by the technical representatives of the shipyards, and they receive a lump sum for profit on this type of house of £26 per house.