65. Colonel THORNEasked the Minister of Munitions if he is aware that at a large munition factory in Essex 3,500 young men and women have received notices to leave their employment; if he is aware that the workpeople belong to the National Union of General Workers; if he is aware that in an institute adjacent to the works a large meeting was held protesting against their dismissal, and demanded that other employment should be found for them; if he is aware that when about a thousand women and girls were dismissed at Park Royal Munition Factory, London, the Ministry of Munitions agreed to give the women a free railway warrant to their homes, and paid them 25s. per week for four weeks in the event of them not being able to obtain any employment; and if he will take action in the matter?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYOwing to certain necessary modifications in the munitions programme it had been decided to close entirely a munitions factory in Essex, where something over 3,000 men and women were employed. Of the total staff approximately 500 have already been discharged, of whom practically all the men and a large proportion of the women have already been found employment. The Minister is aware that women and girls dismissed from the Perivale Filling Factory received a free railway warrant to their homes and 25s. per week for four weeks. As was stated at the time, this payment was due to the exceptional circumstances of the case and was not to be regarded as a precedent.
Colonel THORNECan the hon. Gentleman say whether, in the event of a very large number of women and girls being discharged from the munition factories, who have come from all parts of the country, he can see his way to give them 1710 a free warrant back to their homes and not allow them to be stranded in the streets?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI made that announcement last week. The Government have decided to pay the railway fares.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYAs I have said in my answer. The precedent quoted by the hon. Member was due to the exceptional circumstances of the case. As to the action that will be taken in future on any large number of discharges being necessary, a decision has not yet been come to by the Government.
Colonel THORNEasked the Minister of Munitions whether any management of any firm engaged on munitions of war, controlled, have power to give their employés notice to leave their employment without first getting sanction from the Ministry of Munitions?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYNo sanction on the part of the Ministry of Munitions is required to enable either controlled or uncontrolled establishments engaged on munitions work to give notice to their employés to leave their employment, but Section 3 of the Munitions of War Act, 1917, provides for a minimum notice of a week, except in cases of misconduct justifying summary dismissal.
Colonel THORNEAre we to understand that any firm under control, making munitions, can shut down by giving a week's notice to their employés?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYIt is within the power of an employer to dismiss his workpeople on a week's notice, and I do not think my hon. Friend would care for a rule to be made requiring notice to be given only with the sanction of the Ministry. That would be a very incorrect provision.