§ 98. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Munitions whether the agreement arrived at with the various craft unions with reference to skilled men, either journeymen or apprentices, working on war work or who have enrolled as War Munition Volunteers is that they shall be provided with a card of exemption, the form of cards to be authorised by the Army Council and the card to be issued through the trade unions; if he can state if such an agreement only applies to the members of the craft unions or whether it applies to members of other trade unions who are doing exactly the same kind of work; if he intends giving some consideration to the same class of men who belong to other trade unions; and if he is prepared to receive a deputation from the general labour unions about the matter?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS (Mr. Kellaway)The agreement referred to in the first part of the question provides that all members of the unions concerned not now fully engaged, or at any time hereafter ceasing to be fully engaged on war work, shall enrol as War Munitions Volunteers, and that all skilled men on war work, or who have enrolled as War Munitions Volunteers, who were either journeymen or apprentices prior to 15th August, 1915, shall be provided with a card of exemption from military service. The form of this card will be authorised by the Army Council, and the card will be issued through the trade unions. The trade unions further undertake to do their utmost to provide the Ministry of Munitions with skilled men, who will undertake to serve at the choice of the Ministry either in an Artificers' Corps in the Army or as War Munitions Volunteers in civil life. They also undertake to furnish names and, wherever possible, particulars of skilled men now serving in non-mechanical corps, and the Army Council will endeavour to continue to make every possible effort to transfer such skilled to mechanical units. With regard to the second part of the question, agreements of the kind referred to have only been entered into with unions which contain a large proportion of members possessing skill which is urgently needed for technical units in the Army and also for the production of munitions. With regard to the third part of the question, the Department have been in communication with the War Office as to the steps to be taken to extend some consideration to the same class of men who belong to other trade unions or who are non-unionists. With regard to the fourth part of the question, I will confer with the Secretary of State for War.
§ Mr. WARDLECan the hon. Gentleman tell the House whether this scheme which he now announces was offered to the Ministry of Munitions and the War Office in May of the present year?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYNot to my knowledge.