§ Mr. JOWETT (for Mr. T. F. Richards)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he was aware that many of the employés in the new factory in Portsmouth Dockyard are working overtime, while at the same time other employés have received notice of discharge; and whether he will take steps to provide for a better distribution of the work by putting the yard on short time in order to obviate the discharge of workmen and an increase in the number of unemployed in Portsmouth?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMy right hon. Friend the First Lord has already informed the hon. Member that the average number of men employed on overtime in the new factory is 25, and that they are engaged on the special and confidential work connected with the manufacture of an experimental torpedo tube which has to be completed by the end of October. This overtime, because of the very special character of the work, in no way affects the question of discharges in the yard. As a matter of fact the expenditure on wages at the present time at Portsmouth yard is considerably in excess of the proportion of the Wages Vote. The nature and conditions of the work upon which the yards are engaged make the hon. Member's suggestion as to short time impracticable.