§ Sir HENRY CRAIK (by Private Notice)asked the Minister of National Service whether it is his Department which is responsible in regard to the question of the cancellation of protection certificates of men employed in the shipyards guilty of bad time-keeping?
§ Mr. BECKThe withdrawal of certificates in cases of bad time-keeping is governed by paragraph 15 of the Preface to the Schedule of Protected Occupations (M.M. 130), which provides as follows:
The national need at the present time does not permit of the retention on Admiralty, War Office or Munitions work of any man of military age, who does not devote his whole time and energies to the work. No man found to have a bad record of absence from work will, therefore, continue to be protected by reason of being employed in an occupation covered by the Schedule. Before, however, a man who holds a scheduled occupation certificate or a war munitions volunteer protection certificate has his protection withdrawn on the ground of bad time-keeping, an opportunity will be given to him of appearing in person before the Main Enlistments Complaints Committee of the division, and the Committee will take into account sickness or other reasonable cause.My right hon. Friend will, therefore, see that the Ministry of National Service cannot withdraw certificates until the Admiralty or the Ministry of Munitions, as the case may be, notifies the local offices of the Ministry of National Service that the right to retain a certificate has been forfeited under the Schedule.
§ Sir H. CRAIKCan the hon. Gentleman give any reasons for the very large number who have been found guilty of bad time keeping, and yet the small number of these men whose certificates of exemption have been cancelled?
§ Mr. BECKI think my right hon. Friend representing the Admiralty did give an answer on this point yesterday. I understand that these men have been warned, and I believe the Admiralty are considering further measures in the matter.