§ 39. Captain CARR-GOMMasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has made any inquiry into the taking on of men at the military works at Cippenham, Slough; whether he is satisfied that none but indispensable men are being employed on the work; and will he what supervision is being exercised to enforce some economy in the number of men employed and in the arrangement of working hours, etc.?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAll civilian labour at Cippenham is engaged in the prescribed manner—namely, through the Labour Exchanges. I am not quite clear as to what my hon. and gallant Friend refers to in the second part of his question, but I would inform him that there is a very great shortage of labour, especially carpenters, for the work required to be done. As regards the last part of the question, the officer in charge and the resident engineer watch very closely the question of economical employment, and the working hours have been so arranged as to secure the maximum progress possible.
§ Captain CARR-GOMMIs my hon. Friend aware of the case of a French polisher who was stated to have been taken on at these works, and to have obtained exemption from service in the Army last July because he was engaged on military work, and can he say whether work at this place is considered to be essential and indispensable, and whether men, therefore, are to obtain exemption from service in the Army?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI think the work is of very great national importance.