Sir JOHN JACKSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his atten- 22 tion has been called to the continual fluctuations in the taking on and the discharge of men in the engineer manager's department in the Devonport Dockyard; whether he will explain how it happens that the conditions in this respect vary so widely in the engineer manager's department and the construction department respectively; and whether it is possible to arrange the work so as to prevent these continual discharges in the engineer manager's department?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe bulk of the work in the Engineer Manager's Department consists in repairing, refitting, and making good defects of machinery of ships. There is necessarily considerable uncertainty and fluctuation in the amount of work involved particularly as regards defects of ships in commission. In the constructive manager's department a large part of the work, consists of new construction, about which there is less uncertainty, and it is consequently possible to arrange for less fluctuation in the number of men employed, and as the money allowed for new construction has been recently steadily and largely increased, discharges in this department have been unnecessary. Fluctuations of employment are necessary in all departments which deal with repairs, and are unavoidable, except by considerable financial waste, or by attaching to such establishments such an amount of new work as will allow the fluctuations in the demand for workmen in the repair section to be absorbed on the new and regular work. It is considered that the fluctuations in employment in the engineer manager's department would be found to compare favourably with those in outside firms similarly employed. In order to ensure repairs being economically performed, it is evidently necessary to vary the number of men employed according to the pressure of work which has to be done.
Sir JOHN JACKSONHas the right hon. Gentleman considered the disadvantage of bringing men from a distance to take up work and discharging them on short notice while within a few days further men are taken on?
§ Mr. McKENNAAs the hon. Member knows, in all large businesses discharges are unavoidable; but we do our utmost to maintain regularity of employment in His Majesty's dockyards.
§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many entries and discharges have 23 taken place in the engineer manager's department at the Devonport Dockyard from 1st November, 1909, to 31st March, 1910; and what is the shortest period of time between entry and discharge?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe total entries and discharges during the period mentioned are:—
| Entered. | Discharged. | ||
| Mechanics | 268 | … | 67 |
| Labourers, Boys, Machinists, etc. | 646 | … | 301 |
§ The shortest time between entry and discharge was four weeks. Some proportion of the discharges is due to ordinary, wastage, completion of service, death, etc. A considerable part of this fluctuation was due to the department having undertaken the refit of the machinery of the "Petroleum" oil fuel vessel for the naval store department in the same way as an outside firm would have done and as an addition to the annual programme of work. Special men had to be entered for this work and discharged on completion. Those so discharged were subsequently re-entered on the ordinary staff of the department to meet pressure of current work as far as requirements and financial considerations made it possible to do so. A large part of the fluctuations of labourers was due to the entry and discharge of "casuals" for cleaning ships on completion of refits.
§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many men have been discharged on one day, and that the dockyard authorities have started men on similar work next day?
§ Mr. McKENNAIf the hon. Gentleman will bring to my notice any particular case to which he refers and place a question on the Paper, I shall be happy to look into the matter.
§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will inform the House how many workmen it was intended to discharge from the engineer manager's department at Devonport Dockyard during the month of March, 1910, specifying the number of fitters, boiler-makers, moulders, patternmakers, coppersmiths, and labourers; how many workmen in each of these classes received their notices and were subsequently informed they were withdrawn; what caused the withdrawal; how 24 many workmen in each of the classes specified were now under notice, and how many may expect to receive their notices before 30th April; and whether the action taken or contemplated rested with the local officials or with the Admiralty?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt was not, and has not been, intended to discharge any fitters, boilermakers, moulders, patternmakers, or coppersmiths, from the engineering department during the month of March, 1910, and except in one or two cases of discharge of unsuitable workmen, no discharges during this month have been made. About 120 labourers previously employed as casuals and entered for temporary service, were given notice to be discharged on 24th March. For purposes of financial adjustment, which are always necessary at the end of the financial year, these discharges were deferred to 2nd April, and, with the exception of a few which have been transferred to other departments they have now taken place, and, in addition, there have also been discharged or transferred to other Departments on 2nd April four moulders, four patternmakers, and ten fitters, also for reasons of financial adjustment. The latter were the less efficient men and had been entered for special temporary work. Thirty casual labourers have also been discharged. No statement can be made as to possible discharges before 30th April, as these will be entirely dependent on financial arrangements still under consideration, and on the amount of work coming to the department from the defects of ships arriving for refit. In reply to the last part of the question, any action taken or contemplated as to future discharges would be initiated by the local officers, and referred to the Admiralty if the special financial or other questions involved made it necessary.
§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEIn the case of these men who have been discharged, was notice sent to the Admiralty before the discharge?
§ Mr. McKENNAI think that I have given the fullest answer possible to the question on the Paper. If the hon. Gentleman will put down any subsequent questions on the Paper I will be glad to answer them.