75. Surgeon Lieut.-Commander Bennettasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the basis of the merit award increases of pay in His Majesty's dockyards; what constitutes the merit concerned; by whom it is assessed; and how this increase affects the lowest-paid employees in the dockyards.
§ Mr. W. EdwardsThe new scheme of merit pay is based on an agreement of the Shipbuilding Trade Joint Council for Government Departments. In general terms it applies to craftsmen paid under the Admiralty wages structure for craftsmen and to men in minor trades and titular grades. The minimum rate is not affected by the scheme but after a period of probation men may be advanced according to individual merit to higher rates within specified ranges, and subject to certain broad controls, on the proportion of men borne in each range. In98W assessing merit, craftsmanship is regarded as of primary importance, but consideration is also given to other qualities such as diligence, timekeeping and dependability as well as seniority. The assessments are made by the management of the establishment or department concerned.
The scheme was designed to recognise the craftsmen's skill and does not apply to the lowest-paid dockyard employees, namely, the ordinary and skilled labourers, who have their own distinct and separate wages structure.