§ MR. STAVELEY-HILL (Staffordshire, Kingswinford)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of men now employed at the Royal Gunpowder Factory at Waltham Abbey, and the number of men employed on the same date in 1905; whether it is intended to make further discharges, and, if so, to what number; and how many of the men discharged since the 31st January 1906, possessed ten years service and upward.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The number of men and boys employed at the Royal Gunpowder Factory, Waltham Abbey, on the first Saturday in March was 1,340 in 1905 and 698 in 1908. It is not intended to make any more discharges on reduction; the further reduction to bring establishment within the approved limits will be effected by 1516 wastage. The number discharged on reduction since 31st January 1906 with ten years' service or upwards is twenty-five.