HC Deb 25 August 1893 vol 16 cc1104-5
MR. JESSE CODLINGS (Birmingham, Bordesley)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of persons employed in the Sparkbrook and Enfield Factories respectively on 1st June, 1892?

*THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (MR. WOODALL,) Hanley

The numbers of persons employed in the Sparkbrook and Enfield Factories for the week ended June 4, 1892, were—Sparkbrook, 657; Enfield, 2,100.

MR. JESSE COLLINGS

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether the rate of discharge of the men has not been much more rapid at Sparkbrook than at Enfield; and whether he will say why the Government have dealt so unjustly with the workmen?

*MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member can answer the first part of the question, but it is out of Order to ask why the Government have dealt unjustly with a certain class of workmen.

MR. JESSE COLLINGS

I will alter the last part of my question, and ask why the Government have dealt so differently with the men at Enfield as compared with those at Sparkbrook? The hon. Gentleman will see that, even taking into consideration the shorter hours worked at Enfield, the rate of discharge there has been very much less rapid than at Sparkbrook.

*MR. WOODALL

I have already on former occasions explained in the House that the proportion of men discharged at Sparkbrook is larger than those discharged at Enfield, because, whereas Sparkbrook is a mere factory for small arms, Enfield produces a great many other things, such as sabres, bayonets, and quick-firing guns, and consequently affords employment to a greater number of men. I may draw the attention of the right hon. Member to the fact that at the Bagot Street factory the amount expended in wages last July was more than double the amount expended in the same month last year.

MR. JESSE COLLINGS

My hon. Friend, I think, did not fully understand my question. I pointed out that, taking into account the reduction of hours at Enfield, the rate of discharge was larger at Sparkbrook than at Enfield. As re- gards the wages at Bagot Street, I think the hon. Gentleman will admit that if the two Birmingham factories are put together there has been not an increase, but a very great reduction.

*MR. WOODALL

I have explained to my right hon. Friend more than once that the comparison between Sparkbrook and Enfield is not perfectly fair, because Sparkbrook is a small arms factory, while a great variety of weapons are produced at Enfield.