§ Sir B. FALLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether men entered as skilled labourers in His Majesty's dockyards and Admiralty experimental and kindred establishments who, although not qualified to receive the maximum rate of pay of that class under Admiralty Letter C, Sec. P.L., 3701/20, dated 2nd October, 1920, are employed on work of a very secret nature, and who had to produce on entry references of the highest description as to their fitness under the Official Secrets Act, could be given the opportunity, if so recommended by their superior officers to reach the maximum pay of their class?
§ Lieut. - Colonel HEADLAMMen entered as skilled labourers may, in due course, and subject to the recommendation of their officers, be advanced to the normal maximum rate of pay authorised for skilled labourers as a class; rates in excess of those provided for the general class of skilled labourers are allowed for qualified men employed on special kinds of work, but these rates are not otherwise awardable to skilled labourers.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of men established in Devonport dockyard during the year 1926, together with the average number of years of service, showing those who have served their apprenticeship in the dockyard and those who have served it outside, respectively?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMTwenty workmen were established at Devonport in 1926; their average service was 18 years; five of the men with an average service of 10 years were mechanics who had served their apprenticeship in the dockyard, and 10 were mechanics with average service of 20 years who had not served their apprenticeship in the dockyard.