HC Deb 20 April 1909 vol 3 cc1378-80
Mr. SUMMERBELL

asked to what extent the recommendations of the Henderson Committee with regard to Woolwich Arsenal have been carried out?

Mr. HALDANE

It has only been found possible at present slightly to increase the amount of engineer stores for which orders are placed with the Ordnance factories. I am, however, in communication with the Admiralty as to a possible further increase of work.

Mr. CROOKS

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose, to make any effort whatever to prevent suspensions continuing as they are at this moment, suspending a large number of men from the gun factory?

Mr. HALDANE

That raises another question, but I will take the opportunity of answering it. There has been a great deal of exaggeration in the statements about suspensions. There have been no discharges. What has happened is this. As in former years there is a period just now in which certain kinds of work are slack. We have not got the work at the present moment for these men, but we shall have it presently. Articles are made in pieces and the construction of these pieces takes time, and at the present moment we simply have not the work for these men. We are doing what we can to fill up their time, but there is necessarily slackness in their employment. That happens with private firms also, and it has happened at Woolwich often before, and it is happening now. I trust it will soon come to an end. We have work for the future in sight.

Mr. JAMES ROWLANDS

Do I understand that these men are not standing off altogether, but so far as possible other work is being given to them?

Mr. HALDANE

They are not standing off altogether. As far as possible we are trying to find employment for them. But my hon. Friend will understand that many of these men are specialists, and we have not at the moment special work for which they are suited. We find it much better not to reduce the standard of wages, but rather to let there be a certain amount of short time, as little as possible, and as soon as we get the work, as we shall presently, they will be employed fully again.

Mr. SUMMERBELL

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us any further information he has after the investigations have been made that he has promised?

Mr. HALDANE

What investigations?

Mr. SUMMERBELL

I understood the right hon. Gentleman to say that matters were being further gone into. Will he communicate the result?

Mr. HALDANE

They are being gone into in this sense: that I am trying all I can to get work, and there is a prospect of getting a certain amount. I am doing my best.

Mr. CROOKS

Will the right hon. Gentleman ease these suspensions as much as possible? If you take one week out of three it is a very serious reduction of wages to these men.

Mr. HALDANE

We are easing it as much as possible. Our experience is simply that of private firms, and I think we are more easy-going in this matter than the private firms are.