§ 71. Colonel ASHLEYasked the Minister of Munitions why no steps are being taken to comb out the young men in Woolwich Arsenal and fill their places with men discharged from the Services?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of MUNITIONS (Mr. Kellaway)My hon. and gallant Friend is mistaken in supposing that no steps have been taken to release for military service young men in Woolwich Arsenal. 1327 The release of men for military service from the Arsenal has been going on continuously for some time. Of the 42,000 males at present employed there, there are now only 700 fit for general service who are not covered by the Schedule of Protected Occupations. Of these, about 390 are in process of being called up, and the remainder will be released as soon as the substitutes who are being trained are ready to take their place.
In taking on men to fill the places of those released for military service, preference is always given to men discharged from His Majesty's Forces.
§ Colonel ASHLEYHas the hon. Gentleman received a protest from the Shoreditch Tribunal dealing with this scandal, and has he really inquired and found that these discharged men are being taken on? My information is that they are not.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYDuring May and June 522 men were taken on, 314 of whom were discharged soldiers. There is no scandal there.