7. Sir H. DALZIELasked whether some 150 men employed at Rosyth Dockyard belonging to Kirkcaldy have been discharged in order to join the Army; and, if so, whether their places have been filled by Englishmen of military age?
§ Dr. MACNAMARASince men began to be called up for military service under the Derby Scheme, 140 men have been released from Rosyth Dockyard. Of these 100 were called up by the recruiting officers at Dunfermline, Edinburgh, and various parts of England and Scotland, twenty by the recruiting officer at Kirkcaldy, and twenty by recruiting officers whose addresses are not recorded. As many as possible of the resulting vacancies have been filled by men ineligible for military service. The 1685 remainder have been filled partly by local entries and partly by transferees from England, local entries being made wherever possible.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI cannot say that. There are Irishmen engaged by the contractors.
§ Mr. HOGGECan the right hon. Gentleman say that before Englishmen were brought there they exhausted the possibilities of Scotsmen?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is not a question of Englishmen versusScotsmen. It is extremely likely that some of the men brought from England to Scotland were already Scotsmen. I know there are a great many Scotsmen employed in the South. Of course, in order to get a nucleus at the beginning, we had to get men accustomed to our own dockyard work.
§ Mr. PRINGLEHow many of the men imported are of military age?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIf the hon. Gentleman will put down that question I will inquire.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs there any object to be gained by taking men of military age for the Army and then importing men of military age from another area, to whom you have to pay higher wages?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI think the hon. Gentleman did not hear what I said. I said that as many as possible of the resultant vacancies have been filled by men ineligible for military service.