§ MR. ATHERLEY-JONES (Durham, N.W.)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has reason to believe that the state of the labour market is such that the workmen discharged or about to be discharged from Woolwich Arsenal will generally be able to obtain employment in this country and, if not, whether he 503 will be disposed to consider the practicability, in the case of skilled workmen of long service, of affording in the case of those who desire it pecuniary facilities for emigration to those of our Colonies where a demand for a similar class of labour obtains, or, if this be impracticable, to make some grant by way of bonus in order that they may be supported for a reasonable time while seeking employment.
§ (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) There is reason to believe that skilled workmen, and especially mechanics, will be able to obtain employment in this country without difficulty. Workmen who have more than seven years service in the Ordnance Factories are, when discharged on reduction, entitled to a bonus of one week's wage for each year of service. There are no funds at my disposal from which pecuniary aid of the nature suggested in the Question could be granted.