§ 65 and 66. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Minister of Munitions (1) whether a soldier brought back from the Army to do munitions work has any choice as to the establishment in which he shall work or as to the wage standards and other conditions under which he shall work; and whether a refusal to work would render him liable to court-martial; and (2) whether he is aware that in the case of a workman named John Shaughnessy, employed by Messrs. G. and J. Weir, Cathcart, who applied to the Glasgow munitions tribunal for a leaving certificate, the application was opposed 696 by the firm on the ground that the applicant was a private in the 19th Highland Light Infantry and was returned to them for munitions work by the Ministry of Munitions, that as the workman was still a soldier his case did not come within the scope of the Munitions of War Act, and that on the strength of this argument the chairman adjourned the proceedings in order that he might receive instructions from the Ministry of Munitions; whether the Ministry of Munitions has sent any clear instructions to Glasgow as to the status of a soldier employed as a workman in a controlled establishment; and, if so, what is the nature of such instructions?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of MUNITIONS (Dr. Addison)Every soldier before he is released from the Army for munitions work signs an undertaking stating that he is prepared to undertake work on the production of munitions of war in such establishments as may be named by the Minister, and for so long as required by the Minister, in accordance with certain conditions. The first condition is that the workman, as soon as he ceases to be employed on the production of munitions of war in an establishment named by the Minister, shall return to military service and shall report himself forthwith to his unit for military duty. The conditions further provide that he should receive wages at the rate of the district to which he is transferred or his Army pay and allowances, whichever is the greater, together with separation allowance if unavoidably separated from his family or dependants. A soldier refusing to work is returned to his unit. It will be seen that the provisions as to leaving certificates have no bearing upon the case of such workmen, and this has been explained to all the tribunals.
§ Colonel YATEWill this apply to all soldiers at present serving in the National Reserve companies?
§ Dr. ADDISONIt will apply to all soldiers transferred to munitions work.