§ Captain AMERYI beg to ask the Minister of Munitions a question, of which I have given him private notice, namely, whether it is a fact that some 1,700 men at Thorneycroft's Yard, Southampton, engaged on urgent warship construction have been on strike for some days; whether they have struck as a protest against employment of certain men who have been specially released from the Colours on the ground that they are non-union men; and what steps he proposes to take to see that the provisions of the Munitions Act are enforced?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI regret to say that the facts, as stated in this question, are substantially correct. I should add that the men in question came out on strike without the knowledge or authority of their union and remain on strike, although the union have instructed them to return to work and are making efforts to secure this return. Proceedings have already been commenced against a number of the men, on my behalf, under the Munitions of War Act, and I hope that the case will be heard this week.