§ MR. REGINALD LUCAS (Portsmouth)To ask the Secretary to the 21 Admiralty whether he can give any in formation as to the prospects of the discharging of employees from the Boy a Dockyards; and whether he can give an assurance that every effort will be mad to avoid hardship and inconvenience.
(Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) It will be necessary to reduce the personnel of the dockyards during the coming financial year, but the dismissals will be carried out as gradually as possible, and it is hoped they will not at any time exceed twenty-five in a week at Portsmouth. Every care has been taken to effect the reductions with the least possible amount of hardship, and the notices recently given at Portsmouth were issued under a misapprehension by the Admiral-Superintendent there.