§ COLONEL LOCK WOOD (Essex, Epping)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the notice 641 posted on March 16th at the Enfield Small Arms Factory that all men of less than seven years service would be discharged on March 31st, he would consider as an alternative the propriety of reducing the working time in the factory by twelve hours per week, pending the settlement of the larger question as stated by the Prime Minister.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECBETAEY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. BROMLEY DAVENPORT, Cheshire, Macclesfield)I am afraid that in the case of the 403 men now under notice at Enfield it is not possible to obviate the discharges by working short time, as it will be necessary to make still further reductions. The question of working short time as an alternative to further discharges will be considered so long as there is any prospect of reversion to full time within a reasonable period.
§ COLONEL LOCKWOODDo I understand that does not affect the 403 men?
§ MR. BROMLEY DAVENPORTThat is so.