§ MR. CLYNES (Manchester, N.E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, prior to 21st February, 1902, the present staff of storehouse clerks at Woolwich Arsenal and dockyard were designated as, and performed the duties of, assistant foremen; whether 275 the duties these men now perform are practically the same as they were before the name of the staff was altered, being mainly clerical and of a responsible nature; and whether the storehouse clerks would have participated in a scheme for the granting of pensions which was under consideration on the date mentioned had they been allowed to retain their former title.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. ACLAND,) Yorkshire, RichmondThese storehouse clerks were designated assistant foremen and performed duties similar to those they now perform. The designation was changed because the name storehouse clerk conveys more accurately the nature of the duties, which consist largely of simple clerical work, not of a responsible character, and also of manual labour when required. The foreman's pension scheme did not extend to assistant foremen, and therefore these men would not have participated in it had they retained their former title.