§ MR. KITCHING (Essex, Maldon)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the notice posted in the Enfield Small Arms Factory, announcing the intended reduction in the number of men employed there, stated that the step was rendered necessary "owing to the great reduction in the Estimates by the present Government;" and, if so, whether that is the usual form in which 444 to make such announcements; and, in what manner it is ascertained which men shall be discharged when Government establishments are reduced?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN) (Stirling, &c.)In answer to my hon. Friend, I have to say that the notice referred to was quite unusual in form; and the Superintendent, Colonel Arbuthnot, has expressed to me his regret that he issued it. I may add that the passage quoted by my hon. Friend is not accurate, because no Estimates for Army Services were left to me by my Predecessor, and, therefore, I could not reduce them. I have, however, already stated to the House that we do not intend to maintain a programme based on the recent rate of manufacture. There are certain definite rules regarding service, &c., according to which men are selected when discharges are necessary, and these have been found to work well.