HC Deb 01 December 1919 vol 122 cc35-7
68. Mr. GILBERT

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions the proportion of ex-Service men on the male staff of each of the national factories under the control of his Department?

Mr. HOPE

The proportion of ex-Service men engaged in national factories is 27.5 per cent. of the male staff. A state- ment giving the detailed information asked for by my hon. Friend will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the statement mentioned:

Ex-Service men employed at National Factories, as on 8th November, 1919.
Factory. Percentage of ex-Service Men on Male Staff.
Royal Arsenal, Woolwich 20.2
Watford Anti-Gas Factory 23.1
Slough Mechanical Transport Depot 59.2
Small Arms Factories 13.7
Wood Distillation Factories 19.6
Box and Timber Factories 13.8
Explosives Factories (general) 28.9
Explosives Factories (high explosives) 30.6
Explosives Storage 43.8
Guns and Projectile Factories 28.2
Cotton Waste Mills and Stores 25.3
Memorial Plaque Factory 45.7
Dewsbury Clothing Depot 89.4
Government Rolling Mills, Southampton 19.3
Small Arms Ammunition Factories 21.2
Condemned Munitions Recovery Factories 43.4
Total 27.5

69. Mr. GILBERT

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions the number of munition workers employed in the national factories at the date of the Armistice and also at the present time?

Mr. HOPE

The number of persons employed in national factories under the control of the Ministry of Munitions at the time of the Armistice was 305,888, and the number at present employed in these factories is 33,654. The great majority of the persons at present employed in national factories are engaged on work connected with storage, with the breaking down of ammunition for the recovery of valuable components, and on repair work. I am circulating a more detailed statement, distinguishing between the different types of factories, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

General CROFT

Does that mean that only one-fifth or one-sixth of those employed are ex-Service men?

Mr. HOPE

My hon. and gallant Friend is too late. That refers to the previous question.

The following is the statement promised:

NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED AT NATIONAL FACTORIES.
11th November, 1918. Present time.
Male. Female. Total. Male. Female. Total.
Projectile factories … … … 24,033 22,826 46,859 812 32 844
Shell factories … … … 5,291 13,073 18,364 16 4 20
Filling factories … … … 16,274 56,885 73,159 2,583 1,124 3,707
Cartridge factories … … … 1,274 5,524 6,798 — — —
Ordnance factories … … … 6,352 4,341 10,693 845 131 976
Small arms and amunition factories 8,864 1,831 10,695 2,206 38 2,244
Explosive factories … … … 19,097 17,664 36,761 3,280 455 3,375
Aircraft factories … … … 12,093 6,479 18,572 2,281 271 2,552
Anti-gas factories … … … 759 11,753 12,512 44 172 216
Box and timber factories … … 1,393 2,788 4,181 62 21 83
Gauge factories … … … 902 351 1,253 — — —
Royal Arsenal, Woolwich … … 39,581 24,360 63,941 17,463 1,683 19,146
Government rolling mills … … 1,357 743 2,100 119 12 131
Totals … … 137,270 168,618 305,888 29,711 3,943 33,654

The Motor Repair Depot, Slough, now employing 4,326 persons) and the Dewsbury Clothing Factory, now employing 298 persons, are not included in the above Return, as they were not under the control of the Ministry of Munitions at the time of the Armistice. The Memorial Plaque Factory, Acton, which has been started since the Armistice and employs forty-six persons, is also excluded.