§ MR. MITCHELL-THOMSON (Lanarkshire, N. W.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state how many men were employed in the home dockyards on 30th November, 1905; how many men in similar employment are provided for in this year's Estimates; and how many additional men the Admiralty hope to employ in similar work as a result of the policy of the Government for the mitigation of the present distress.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. MCKENNA,) Monmouthshire, N.The number of men employed in the home dockyards on 30th November, 1387 1905, was 27,864. The average number pro-Aided for in the current Navy Estimates is 30,500—the total number borne on 17th October being 31,400. It is hoped that as a result of the Government policy for alleviating distress, employment until 31st March, 1909, will be found for an additional 2,100 men.
§ MR. CURRAN (Durham, Jarrow)Arc there in any Government Departments, especially in the dockyards, any men engaged in working overtime?
§ MR. MCKENNAThere are individual cases of overtime, but none is allowed unless under special circumstances and when absolutely necessary and under my personal sanction.