§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Sir Cyril Jackson, on 11th January, 1918, in granting an award of war bonus to the civilian subordinates of the Army Ordnance Department at Aldershot to date back from 1st November, 1917, at the same time assured the deputation who waited upon him that the said award would affect the minimum and the maximum concurrently; and why it was only the minimum who received the full award from 1st November?
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§ Mr. FORSTERI do not trace the award referred to, unless it is that of Sir Cyril Jackson, dated 14th January, 1918, which took effect from the pay day next after 21st November, 1917. Full effect was duly given to this award as officially issued, and I have no knowledge of any assurances affecting it.
§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that at the Field Stores, Aldershot, there is a fully-equipped engineering works, under the control of an inspector of ordnance machinery, which was called upon during the War to manufacture munitions for the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and that in these works a very considerable amount of war material in a minor stage of manufacture was continuously received from Woolwich to be completed at Aldershot, and that specifications are constantly placed before the foremen in various shops in these works with instructions to produce engineering work of any description required; and whether, under these circumstances, the same scale of pay as at Woolwich will be paid to civilian subordinates of the Army Ordnance Department at Aldershot?
§ Mr. FORSTERNo, Sir. The Aldershot rates, like the rates at other Army Ordnance Department Depots, are settled in accordance with the rates prevailing locally, under the Fair Wages Resolution of this House.
§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Royal Army Ordnance Department at Chitlington are paying a higher rate of pay to labourers than is being paid to foremen at such places as Aldershot, where large stocks of explosives are kept and daily handled by civilian subordinates, and whether he will state the reason for this differentiation?
§ Mr. FORSTERI regret I cannot identify the depot mentioned by my Noble Friend, but if Chattering is referred to, I may say that this temporary depot was until recently No. 23 National Filling Factory, and the rates paid are a continuance of those fixed by the Ministry of Munitions owing to the special conditions, etc., existent there. These considerations are not applicable to Aldershot or other stations.
§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, up to September last, after four years' war 1615W service, the emoluments, including all increases of pay and war bonus, in the Army Ordnance Department at Aldershot, of a foreman, with five children under fourteen years of age, who was supervising 200 women, twenty-four military tailors, and six storemen, was only £2 10s. per week; that a principal foreman, who throughout the War has been dealing with stocks of high explosives, received only £2 17s. per week; that foremen writers who occupied chairs vacated by warrant officers upon declaration of war, and had efficiently carried out their work, received only £3 per week; that a temporary principal foreman, who during the period of six months ending 30th September, 1918, had a turnover of £750,000, in charge of stores of an easily removable nature, for which he was supposed to be held personally responsible financially, received only £2 15s. per week; whether he is also aware that there are other cases of responsible civilian subordinates who throughout the War were continuously supervising men receiving more pay than they themselves were, and who in addition were held responsible for the safety of the stores passing through their groups, and who in many instances were called upon to work greatly in excess of the twenty-four hours' limit overtime paid for; and whether, under these circumstances, he will consider the desirability of granting the responsible civilian subordinates of all grades a gratuity for their services during the War?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe classes concerned have since received a further advance on their wages. In many cases they have put in heavy overtime, and in recognition of that fact they have received substantial payments for overtime to which they were not entitled under their conditions of service. I cannot hold out any hope of a gratuity.