§ 15. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many workmen and officials, respectively, were employed in the Royal dockyards at home and abroad in March, 1914; how many are employed now; how many of the workmen are established men; and how many of the officials are permanent?
§ Commander EYRES-MONSELLThe numbers of workmen and officials employed at the dockyards at home and abroad were:—
Of these numbers, 14,500 workmen are borne on the established list and 2,547 of the officials are permanent. These figures relate only to the numbers employed in Vote 8 departments. It will 2163 be appreciated that the number of officials is not entirely dependent upon the number of workpeople employed in the dockyards, but is also to a large extent dependent upon the amount of material in the yards (which is now two or three times as large as it was in 1914) and other factors.
Workman. Officials. March, 1914 51,970 2,304 25th February, 1922 56,327 3,555
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIn view of the fact that these figures show there are more than twice as many employed although we have a smaller Navy, can the hon. Gentleman say what is being done to reduce the number?
§ Commander EYRES-MONSELLThese figures are in course of being reduced and this does not represent the number at the present moment. A census of the numbers in the dockyards is being taken on 3rd April, and the possibility of making further reductions will be kept in view.