HC Deb 27 March 1905 vol 143 cc1213-4
MR. BENN (Devonport)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, as he is unable to include the case of the Government workers at the dockyards in the inquiry now being conducted by the Cabinet, he will, pending the result of such an extended inquiry, intervene, as he did in the case of Sparkbrook, Birmingham, to prevent wholesale and sudden discharges of men employed in the dockyards.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I think the hon. Member is not accurately representing the action I took in connection with Enfield and Sparkbrook. As regards the discharges from the dockyards, they are made in accordance with public necessities, and gradually, and endeavour is made to make any hardship that may ensue as even as possible over the dockyards concerned.