§ Sir Knox Cunninghamasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that before April, 1963 the labourers employed by the Admiralty at the torpedo establishment at Antrim were paid at the same rate as their counterparts in England, he will reverse the decision to pay such Admiralty employees less wages than those paid to similar Admiralty employees in England engaged on similar work; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HayAs from September, 1963, labourers in Admiralty Dockyards and Establishments, including Antrim, have been aligned with the general Government "M" rate, by agreement with the trade unions. This process of alignment is being carried out by stages which will be completed in April, 1964. This change is of considerable benefit to Admiralty labourers in general, but the "M" wages structure does include a number of regional rates, some of which are above and some below the general rate. The Antrim rate is based on the average of rates paid in thirteen representative industries in Northern Ireland, and is somewhat below the general rate applicable in England. In the long term it will nevertheless probably be of advantage to these men to be transferred to the new structure, and the regional difference is an essential element in it.