§ MR. STAVELEY-HILLTo ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of men employed at Woolwich Arsenal, and the number 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 31st January, 1906, possessed ten years' service and upward.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The number of men and boys employed in the ordnance factories at Woolwich Arsenal on the first Saturday in March was 15,122 in 1905 and 11,643 in 1908. It is not intended to make any more discharges on reduction, except in a few special cases of men who wish to leave. Any further reductions will be effected by wastage. The number of men discharged since the 31st January, 1906, with ten years service and upwards, is 1,317.