§ 88. Mr. C. DUNCANasked the Minister of Munitions whether he will obtain a Return of the number of single men who have been started at the Enfield Small Arms Factory since the outbreak of the War; and whether he can undertake that married men of long service at this factory will not be discharged for service with the Colours until the single men taken on since the War have been passed for military service?
§ Sir W. EVANSSince the outbreak of war the number of men engaged at Enfield who were known to be single was 1,678. Of these, 1,104 are still employed there. All but 286 of this number are either skilled mechanics, Navy and Army discharges, rejected men, or men in low medical categories. There were also 1,041 men not known to be married who have been discharged. In reply to the last part of my hon. Friend's question, I can only say that, other things being equal, single men are released in preference to married men.