§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that during the last fortnight some 67 men have been dismissed, or received notice of dismissal, from the field-gun section and other departments of the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich; and whether, since the policy of working short time has now been adopted at Enfield and in a small section of the Royal Laboratory, Woolwich, he is able to carry out the same policy in all the departments of Woolwich Arsenal, in accordance with the promise made in July last?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. WOODALL,) HanleyIt is true that 60 men have been discharged from the gun factory and 20 more are under notice to leave, in consequence of the completion of the rough work on which they have been engaged and the impossibility of finding other employment for them, they being un-suited for the more finished processes. Of the number discharged, about one-third are understood to have found employment elsewhere; 20 of them receive substantial gratuities; and five retire on pension. The completion of the orders for which the numbers of workmen were so largely increased will, it is feared, render necessary a further reduction of hands before the expiration of the current financial year, but the Secretary of State will see that wherever possible the system of short time shall be followed, so as to defer until the latest moment the actual necessity of discharging men altogether. In answer to a question of which the hon. Member for Battersea has given me private notice, I have to say that every possible effort has been made to avoid discharging men during the prevalent depression. Indeed, the total number of workmen now employed is only 12½ per cent, less than were at work in 1890, which was the busiest year the ordnance factories have ever known. The practice of working short time has been adopted and will be continued at Enfield. In the laboratory at Woolwich shorter hours have been adopted in certain sections; but there we hope to arrange that the labourers shall earn a full weekly 656 minimum of 19s. In the carriage department and at Birmingham and Waltham Abbey it is anticipated that full employment may be provided up to the end of the financial year. But in the possible event of a falling off of work resort will be had to short time, or to the expedient of absorbing men in other departments. The House may rest assured that everything practicable will be done to keep men at least partially employed during the winter.
§ MR. LOUGHSeeing that on the 20th of July the hon. Gentleman stated that in the event of work falling off at Woolwich the short time system would be adopted, may I ask him if that system cannot be adopted at once, thus preventing men being turned out of work at this inclement season?
§ MR. WOODALLAs far as is practicable that is our policy. As a matter of fact, these particular men who are now being discharged are not suited for any other work to which they could be put. But there is certain work so urgent that we are obliged to put the men on the fullest possible time, and, indeed, in some departments we are working double shifts.