§ Colonel LOCKWOODasked the Secretary for War why, during the last few days, well-trained lads of good character, about the age of 21, who have worked for six years and upwards in the Arsenal, are being discharged from the Royal Ordnance Factories?
§ Mr. HALDANEWhen a boy reaches the age of 21 he becomes a man, and can only be employed if there is a vacancy for a man. At the present moment, owing to slackness of work, men are being employed on short time, and only in special circumstances can a boy be retained for work on which no men on short time could in any way be employed. In reply to a question put by the Noble Viscount the Member for Thirsk and Malton Division of Yorkshire on 25th October last I gave a full explanation of the circumstances under which boys were employed at the Arsenal.
§ Colonel LOCKWOODWill these discharges continue indefinitely?
§ Mr. HALDANEThey are not discharges at all. The employment is for boys up to the age of 21, and they enter into the contract on that footing. After the age of 21 they become men.
§ Mr. W. CROOKSMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether some arrangement can be made whereby the lads may continue the session of education for which they have already paid, so that when they are dismissed they may not lose the education and the money which they have paid?
§ Mr. HALDANEThat is a different matter, and I would ask the hon. Member to put down a question.
§ Colonel LOCKWOODasked the Secretary of War if he will undertake that discharges under O.F. Form 55 should be suspended, in view of the distress still existing in Woolwich and the neighbourhood?
§ Mr. HALDANEAs I have already informed the House, no discharges from the establishment are taking place at Woolwich Arsenal, except in the case of the Building Works Department, in which, owing to the nature of the work, the strength necessarily varies, and for which no minimum establishment was adopted.
§ Colonel LOCKWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are cases of misery and absolute starvation of which I have the facts in my hand, and which have arisen, I will not say from discharges, but from dismissals recently?
§ Mr. HALDANEThere are no dismissals in connection with the work I am speaking of. That work varies from time to time, as in the case of a private firm. There is 7 no establishment and no minimum, and we always take on the hands as they are wanted.
§ Colonel LOCKWOODIs there no hope for these people at all?
Mr. RICHARDSIs there any limit to the term of suspension? Is it for six months, twelve months, or two years?
§ Mr. HALDANEWe take the hands on as they are wanted. There is no establishment in connection with this work.
§ Lord BALCARRESDoes he mean to say that no discharges are taking place from the Ordnance factories although these boys have received notices saying that their services will not be required after such and such a date?
§ Mr. HALDANEThe Noble Lord has really mixed the matter up. The contract is that the boys are employed up to the time they are twenty-one. They are notified when they are twenty-one. There is no dismissal or discharge, but the contract is adhered to.
§ Mr. HUGH LEAWill he say whether the treatment given to these boys, which is similar to that given to boy telegraphists in the post-office, is one of the most fruitful sources recruiting the unemployed?