§ COLONEL HUGHES-HALLETT (Rochester)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, On what principle it has been determined that men shall be selected for discharge in the reduction now being made at Chatham and in other Royal Dockyards; whether the selection is left entirely in the hands of the officers in command of those Dockyards, or arranged by the Admiralty; and, whether any regard is paid to length of service; and, if to, what length of service constitutes a claim to continued employment?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)It will probably be convenient that I should quote the Dockyard Regulation with regard to the discharges of men from the Royal Dockyard—
When a reduction is ordered to be made in any department of the Yard, particular care is to be taken that, without favour or partiality, such persons are discharged as, by the Report of their respective superiors and the inspection of the Superintendent, may be found from ago, infirmity, and inability to be the least lit for their respective situations.I can only add that the Admiral Superintendents are most careful in supervising the lists of men whom it is proposed should be discharged. It should be understood that the only men discharged are the hired men, whose engagements render them liable to discharge at seven days' notice. Not being entitled to pension, their pay is higher than that of the men on the Establishment.
§ CAPTAIN PRICE (Devonport)May I ask whether there are any officials at the Admiralty who examine into these cases one by one to see that the Regulations are carried out?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONNo, Sir; it is the duty of the Admiral Superintendents.