§ Mr. HANNONasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the advance in wages which has recently been made to industrial employés of the War Office, consideration has been given to the special terms of Government employment vis-a-vis private employment; and whether it is intended to make similar concessions to other grades and classes of Government employés who may desire their remuneration standardised with the rates payable to private employés?
§ Mr. WALSHThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the War Office will continue to govern themselves in these matters of wages by the principles embodied in the Fair Wages Resolution of this House.
§ Sir K. WOODasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is prepared to give further consideration to the claim for an increase in wages of the London War Department workmen, to whom the reduction of 16s. 6d. a week effected in the engineering trade was applied in August and September, 1922, seeing that the advance just made in many cases will only provide a wage for a man and his family of 47s. a week?
§ Mr. WALSHI am aware that, with the advances recently announced, the minimum wage of the men in question becomes 47s. a week. The fullest consideration was given to all relevant factors before the advances were decided upon.