§ 56. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can give the substance of the recent Admiralty Order dealing with the special employment in His Majesty's dockyards of men invalided from the Royal Navy and the Royal dockyards; whether he is aware that the Order has raised expectations which can only be realised in comparatively few cases: and will he say what the Admiralty proposes to do for men invalided on insufficient pension who, although eligible under the Order, cannot obtain employment in the way specified 1051 and who are prevented by the conditions of the Workmen's Compensation Act from getting employment in the open labour market?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe substance of the Order referred to is that rosters should be kept at the dockyards of men invalided from the Royal Navy or Naval Establishments on account of injuries sustained on duty, with a view to finding light employment for such men in as many cases as possible. With regard to the suggestion that this order has raised expectations which can only be realised in comparatively few cases, I have to say that the Order itself closed with a statement pointing out that the number of men for whom light employment can be found must necessarily be small. Certainly, wherever opportunity offers, it is our desire to treat the cases of these men sympathetically, and thus, by finding light employment, augment the amount of pension or compensation allowance awarded. But the necessities of dockyard work do not, as I have said, offer many such opportunities.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Government propose to do anything for these men who have such very small pensions? If they do not receive any assistance from the Government, they are compelled to go to the workhouse.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have said we do our best to find light employment for them, but the opportunities are not many.