§ 29. Mr. LYLEasked the Minister of Labour how many ex-service men recently discharged from Woolwich Arsenal have come on the books of the employment exchanges; how many are there still; and what special steps he is taking to find them employment?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am informed that no ex-service men have recently been discharged from Woolwich Arsenal except a small number who have been discharged for misconduct. Only three ex-service men employed at the Arsenal have registered at the Woolwich Employment Exchange during the past month. Every effort is made to find suitable employment for them. Additional work has recently been secured for the Ordnance Factories at Woolwich, which it is hoped may render it unnecessary to discharge workers from the factories during the next two or three months, although some of the other departments at Woolwich are running short of work. Every effort, however, is being made to absorb redundant workers in the factories, and the whole question of employment in connection with Woolwich Arsenal is engaging the attention of the Cabinet Committee on Unemployment I should add that the road work recently started in the Woolwich district is employing 130 men, and a considerably larger number will be employed in the near future.