§ Major Sir BERTRAM FALLE (by Private Notice)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if, in view of the great reduction of men now taking place in 36 the Royal Dockyard at Portsmouth, owing to the lack of Government work, he will urge upon the Board of Admiralty the necessity of constructing ships other than ships of war in this dockyard, and so retain the men in useful employment, instead of driving them to take unemployment benefit, a benefit the men do not like, and which is a wholly unremunerative charge upon the State, and if he can make any statement as to the Admiralty intentions on this subject?
§ Mr. LONGThe whole question of the reduction of men in the Royal Dockyards owing to lack of Government work, and various suggestions for meeting the situation, are under the consideration of the Board of Admiralty. I am afraid the particular suggestion made by my hon. Friend is not altogether consistent with the advice previously given to the Government on other questions.
Sir HENRY COWANWill the right hon. Gentleman say that he will take care that work is not provided at Portsmouth by taking it away from other parts of the country?