Dr. MORGANasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the rates of pay and wages of the industrial staff of the Army Forms Depot, Searles Road, New Kent Road; whether he is aware of the discrepancy in comparative rates for similar work between the workers at this depot and those at the Stationery Office; and whether, seeing that many previous representations have been made, he will look into this question?
§ Mr. SHAWThe answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. The rates paid by the Stationery Office, which, I understand, are based on printing trade rates, do not apply to the Army Forms Depot, and a claim that they should so apply has been rejected by the Industrial Court. I am inquiring into the question of whether any increase in existing rates is justified on the present basis.