HC Deb 25 July 1907 vol 179 cc123-5
MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the minimum staff has now been fixed for Woolwich Arsenal; and whether he can state the number to the House. †See (4) Debates, clxxviii., 1156–7. I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in fixing the minimum strength of the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, consideration has been given to the work allocated for this year; whether the minimum now fixed will mean that 600 more men will be discharged from one department, viz. the Royal Laboratory; and whether this department has sufficient work to keep the present staff fully employed.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. BUCHANAN, Perthshire, E.)

In reply to my hon. friend it has been found possible to fix numbers beyond which the staff of the Royal Laboratory, Royal Gun Factory and Carriage Department will not vary in either direction, except in case of emergency, namely a minimum of 8,000 and a maximum of 8,400. The numbers employed in these Departments on July 22nd were 9,166 and it will be necessary to reduce this number by 456 during the present financial year. After this it is believed that the number will be brought within the limits fixed, by the natural wastage of the following year. These figures do not include the 3,145 men now employed in the Torpedo Factory, Building Works Department or Central Offices, for which no minimum establishment is at present fixed, and in which no special discharges or reduction are at present contemplated. These figures bring the total at Woolwich to 12,311. Of these a few in the Building Works Department and Central Office are employed at En-field and Waltham. The new limits fixed for Enfield are 1,900 to 2,000 and for Waltham 600 to 650. It is proposed to reduce numbers at Enfield by 48 this year, which will bring it within the limit, and at Waltham by 35, which will bring the numbers there to 700 and leave fifty for reduction by wastage next year. In regard to the second Question of the hon. Member I have to say that, in fixing the minimum, full consideration has been given to all the circumstances as regards work for this year and the future. The minimum fixed for the Royal Laboratory, 4,300 to 4,500, will entail an ultimate reduction in this department of 871. Of this number 371 will be by discharge before the end of the financial year (a figure included in the number of 456 given in reply to the hon. Member's previous Question), and the remainder by wastage next year or transfer to the other factories. The work available this year for the Royal Laboratory might possibly suffice to keep the present staff continuously employed till later in the year, but it is desirable to proceed with these reductions continuously in order to arrive at the minimum establishment and continuity of employment at the earliest date possible, and avoid, if possible, discharges during the coming winter or in the course of next year.

MR. CROOKS

May I ask whether any work which the men of Woolwich are unable to complete will be given out to contract, or retained in the Arsenal, to be finished next year?

MR. BUCHANAN

There is no intention of giving out to contract any work which has not been completed.