§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can undertake to give an assurance that the number of workmen employed in the Woolwich Arsenal shall not fall, on a peace basis, below a certain number; and, if so, can he say if that number has been nearly, or quite, reached.
§ MR. HALDANEIt is my intention, if investigations which I have now set on foot show it to be possible, to fix whenever practicable a minimum establishment under which in ordinary circumstances the number of those employed should not fall for, at any rate, a definite period. My hon. friend will realise that the most careful inquiry is essential before further details can be given.
§ MR. WALTERS (Sheffield, Brightside)asked whether such an arrangement would involve any change in the proportion of orders previously allowed to private firms and upon which the daily bread of a large number of workmen exclusively employed in Government work entirely depended.
† See (4) Debates, clxiv., 530.
§ MR. HALDANEOnly to this extent, that a minimum of that kind must necessarily be fixed low. It is essential that we should keep these establishments capable of expanding in time of war. We cannot go below a certain minimum, but the minimum is a low one, and I do not think it will interfere with private contractors.
§ MR. WALTERSBut is it not the fact that many private firms have laid down plant that can only be utilised for Government contracts?
§ MR. CROOKSAnd they charge 300 per cent. above market prices in times of emergency.