§ 37. Mr. THOMASasked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that misapprehension exists among men employed in railway shops as to their position under the Munitions Act, owing to munition tribunals having decided in some cases that they come under its provisions, and in other cases that they are excluded; and, having regard to the confusion which must arise from such conflicting decisions, whether he will make a definite statement of the position of railwaymen under the Act, and whether all railway shops come within its terms?
The PARLIAMENTARY (MILITARY) SECRETARY to the MUNITIONS DEPARTMENT (Colonel Lee)As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, an Appeal Tribunal has been set up as the result of the Munitions of War (Amendment) Act, with a view to harmonising the decisions of the munition tribunals. Quite recently a decision has been given by this tribunal to the effect that workmen employed in repairing locomotives are engaged on munitions work. I am sending a copy of this decision, and of another decision relative to the manufacture of railway wagons, to my hon. Friend.