§ Mr. TAYLORasked the Secretary of State for Air what is the rate paid by his Department to general labourers employed at Digby and Cranwell aerodromes; and whether any free transport facilities are provided for such workers?
§ Sir S. HOAREAs regards the first part of the question, the rate is 42s. for a week of 48 hours. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. TAYLORasked the Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been called to the rate of wages paid by his Department to general labourers at Waddington aerodrome; whether they are receiving the recognised district rate of pay; and what is the reason why 11 ex-service men employed by his Department and doing the same kind of work as those men employed by the contractors, are paid 5¼d. an hour less than the contractors' men?
§ Sir S. HOAREAs regards the first two parts of the question, the general labourers at the aerodrome in question are paid at the rate of 42s. for a 48-hour week. This rate was fixed after inquiry into the local rates of wages as being the prevailing rate for general labourers in the district. As regards the last part, the men employed by the Air Ministry are engaged upon general labouring work, and are not properly compared with men employed by a building contractor and paid at building trade rates, which are 4¾d. (not 5¼d.) an hour higher than general labourers' rates. It is not the practice of the Air Ministry or of other Government Departments to pay general labourers at building trade rates.