§ 27. Sir THOMAS BRAMSDONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty to state the number of men now weekly being discharged from the Portsmouth naval establishments; whether he is aware that there are upwards of 4,200 men unemployed in Portsmouth at the present time; whether, in consequence, any further discharges can be discontinued; and is he now in a position to state what is proposed to be done to carry out the recommendations of the Colwyn Committee, particularly in reference to Portsmouth?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe number now being discharged weekly is about forty-two. We are aware of, and regret, the amount of unemployment at Portsmouth; but we cannot retain men for whom we have no work. As regards the last part of the question, I may inform my hon. Friend that it is contemplated to allocate to Portsmouth a certain amount of work 1670 for the machinery and boilers of an oiler, which it is intended to construct at Devonport in pursuance of the recommendations contained in the Report of the Colwyn Committee.