§ 21. Colonel Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Minister of Munitions whether his attention has been called to the fact that at the London Munitions Tribunal seven young women were fined 15s. each for refusing to undertake C.E. work; whether some more satisfactory method of securing regular attendance at this kind of work will be adopted instead of the infliction of heavy fines; and whether he is aware that the unwillingness to work at places where explosives are manufactured is to a large extent due to the lax manner in which the Regulations are enforced?
§ Dr. ADDISONMy attention has been drawn to this case. Under a rule of the factory in question every worker must undertake work in any part of the factory when directed to do so. This rule is brought to the notice of all employés when entering the factory. The Court found that the order was a lawful and a reasonable one. I do not consider that the procedure before the munitions tribunal is an 963 unsatisfactory method of enforcing discipline. As regards the last part of the question, I am not aware of any laxity in the enforcement of regulations at these factories or of any general unwillingness to work at them.