§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH - COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that men who have been discharged from the Devonport dockyard as moulders have been retained as skilled labourers and that, when vacancies have occurred for moulders, entries have been made from outside and the men who were discharged through the reduction of hands and retained as skilled labourers were not given the opportunity of entry; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made so that, in the event of moulders being required, the men who were discharged through reduction may have the first offer?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second and third parts, since the 1st January, 1904, four men have been given employment as skilled labourers instead of being discharged, and of these three have since been re-entered as moulders. When moulders are required preference is in all cases given to efficient men who have been previously discharged on reduction and are still available in the yard or in the district.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKECan the right hon. Gentleman tell me whether the three moulders who were given work were moulders who had been discharged?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes. I have stated that the men employed were moulders, and only one case such as the hon. Gentleman complains of has occurred in seven years.