§ MR. CONYBEAREasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, with regard to his letter of the 21 st instant to the hon. the senior Member for Devonport, in reference to the present Dockyard discharges, in which he said—
This and other work was given to the Dockyard, and a large number of extra men were temporarily taken on for that purpose. Every one so taken on signed, before being employed, the form of which I enclose a copy. The work is now approaching completion, and the men engaged on it are not required, and therefore, in accordance with the terms of their engagement, their employment lapses. The total number so affected is about 450.Whether it is the fact that, in addition to the above-mentioned 450 men, some 150 to 200 other men were noticed to be discharged on Saturday last; whether 1394 those notices have been withdrawn, and on what grounds; and, if not, whether they are to be carried into effect, and at what date; whether he could state the exact number of those so discharged, or noticed to be discharged, who were employed under the written agreement mentioned in his letter; and, how he explained the fact that a considerable number of men have been discharged, who, having been continuously employed in the yards and factory for periods ranging from three to 14 years, could not possibly have come under the terms of the signed agreement as to service referred to in his letter?
§ MR. FORWOOD419 men were discharged on the 23rd March, and 10 men received notice of discharge; but their notice has since been withdrawn, as sufficient work for their employment has been found. All the men discharged had been engaged for short service, except 11, and these men were discharged, as they were not so efficient in the performance of their duties as other men who had been in the service for a shorter period of time and who were retained.