§ Captain Pluggeasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the number of employes in the respective establishments and departments who have 1790W been placed on the established lists since November, 1936, up to September, 1937?
§ Mr. ShakespeareIt is understood that the information sought is confined to workpeople at the Dockyards and the Naval Armament Depots. The numbers of workpeople who have been placed on the established list at these establishments since November, 1936, up to 30th September, IQ—17, are:
Portsmouth. Captain of Dockyard Department 11 Constructive Department 58 Engineering Department 73 Works Department 12 Electrical Department 18 Naval Store Department 1 Torpedo Depot 7 R.N. Armament Depot 10 Others 4 — 194 1791W
Devonport. Captain of Dockyard Department 17 Constructive Department 88 Engineering Department 65 Works Department 3 Electrical Department 37 Naval Store Department 10 Torpedo Depot 3 R.N. Armament Depot, Bull Point 3 — 226 Chatham. Captain of Dockyard Department 4 Constructive Department 54 Engineering Department 87 Works Department 9 Electrical Department 18 Naval Store Department 13 Torpedo Depot 4 Naval Armament Depot 5 — 194 Sheerness. Commanders Department 11 Constructive Department 8 Engineering Department 13 Works Department 1 Electrical Department 7 Naval Store Department 5 Others 1 — 46 Portland. Constructive Department 5 Engineering Department 2 Electrical Department 2 Naval Store Department 2 — 11 Rosyth. Electrical Department 1 Naval Store Department 1 Boom Defence Depot 1 King's Harbour Master, Rosyth 1 King's Harbour Master, Inver-gordon 1 Others. 1 R.N. Armament Depot, Crombie 2 — 8 Total 679
§ Captain Pluggeasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the claim for an increase of pay to mechanics has recently been discussed by the Admiralty and, if so, what decision has been arrived at?
Mr. CooperThe pay of mechanics in the employment of the Admiralty has been the subject of discussions on the Shipbuilding Trade Joint Council for Government Departments, and, at its meeting on the 15th October, 1937, the council decided to refer the matter to a sub-committee for a more detailed examination of the position. This examination is proceeding, and no desision has yet been reached.
§ Sir R. Gowerasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the recent tendency in His Majesty's Naval Dockyards to allocate to unskilled labourers work which has previously been reserved for the titular trades of leatherworkers and hosemakers, and that in these cases the labourers chosen to do this work are not granted a temporary additional payment equivalent to that of hosemakers but only a temporary rate of is. per week; what is the precise definition of the unskilled labourers' occupation in connection with hosemaking; and what is the line of demarcation between their work and that of the skilled hosemakers and leatherworkers?
§ Mr. ShakespeareIt is a long established practice in His Majesty's Dockyards to employ skilled labourers on such portions of leather and hosework as fall within their capacity; men rated up from the unskilled labourer's ranks for employment on this work normally commence at a rate of is. above the ordinary labourers' rate and advance in rate of pay according to experience and competency. Only men who have served an apprenticeship or have otherwise had a regular training of not less than five years as skilled leatherworkers in the saddlery, harness-making, boot-making and repairing, or other branch of the leather trade, are classified and paid as skilled leather hosemakers. I am unaware that any change has been made in the above arrangements.
§ Captain Pluggeasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the present number of unestablished employés in His 1792W Majesty's naval establishments who have 10 years or more continuous service to their credit?
§ Mr. ShakespeareI understood that the information desired is confined to workpeople in the Dockyards and the Naval Armament Depots in this country. The number of unestablished workpeople at these establishments of not less than 10 years' continuous service at the present time is 14,295.
§ Captain Pluggeasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will now consider a claim for a small increase of wages or bonus to all Admiralty industrial employés to meet the increased cost of living?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThe Board have recently decided to grant an increase of 3s. a week in the industrial bonus of all adult male industrial employes at home, following on the grant of a similar increase in the engineering and shipbuilding industry. The increase was to be paid in two instalments of is. 6d. a week, the first dating from the 23rd August last. The full amount of the increase will take effect from the 15th of this month.