§ 37. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will say how it happened that when it was decided to introduce dilution of labour into the Royal Dockyards women were entered from the Labour Exchanges without any regard as to whether they were the dependants of men previously employed in the Royal Navy or in the Royal Dockyards; whether it is a recognised rule that all female labour, except in the case of women clerks, preference is to be given to the dependants of men who have served their country in the Royal Navy or in the Royal Dockyards; and will he say why this rule was set aside and female labour of a general kind introduced, seeing that there is, and has always been, a very large list of women 2574 dependants of ex-sailors and ex-dockyards men awaiting employment in the dockyards?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThere have for many years been standing instructions to the effect that in engaging women for employment in the Royal Dockyards preference is to be given to the widows of men who have belonged to the naval and dockyard services. When in the process of applying dilution it was desired to enter women in much larger numbers, the preference for relatives of deceased men of these services was maintained, and I am satisfied that the instructions in this respect have been faithfully carried out. My hon. Friend will be interested to know that at most of the dockyards the list of available candidates for whom preference was authorised, being the widows of men originally in the naval and dockyard services, has on several occasions been exhausted, leaving the superintendents at times no alternative but to obtain other women. He will be further interested to know that, whereas before the War there were in all our home establishments, including the Central Offices in London, about 650 women employed, there are now over 9,000.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that with regard to the Royal Dockyard at Devonport he is misinformed?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo. If my hon. Friend says that that is the case there I will look into it.