§ Sir THOMAS BRAMSDONasked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the amount contributed by the established men in His Majesty's dockyards towards their pensions and gratuities, or bonuses, during the last three available years, setting out each year separately?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs regards pensions, established men (i.e., the men ultimately entitled to pension) usually receive Is. a week less in their base rates of pay than hired men, in cases where the rate of wages for the hired men do not exceed 25s. a week.
Where the wages exceed 25s. and do not exceed 30s., the wage of the established man is 1s. 3d. a week lower than that of the hired man.
Where the base rates exceed 30s. but do not exceed 36s., the amount of the difference is 1s. 6d. a week.
For each additional 6s. a week in base rates of wages, 6d. is added to the amount of the difference between hired and established rates.
As regards gratuities, if my hon. Friend refers to those which are payable under certain circumstances to hired men on their discharge from the Service, there is no deduction or other form of contribution towards the cost of these gratuities.
As regards bonuses which are paid to established men on retirement at the rate of one-thirtieth of the annual amount of their base wages in respect of each year of established service, these bonuses form part of the retiring allowances of established men.
612WIf my hon. Friend refers to war bonuses or war increases in wages, there is, of course, no contribution on their account.
The difference between the base rates of wages of established and hired men referred to above, on the numbers borne at the time, are roughly estimated to amount to:
In 1916 … … … £46,000 In 1917 … … … 61,000 In 1918 … … … 63,000 If there is further information which my hon. Friend desires on the subject, I shall be pleased to furnish it as far as it is available.