§ 22. Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is about to make any further discharges from the. Royal Carriage Department or any other Department at Woolwich Arsenal?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Lawson)As regards the Royal Carriage Department, on which recently received a deputation representing the men, the amount of work available is such that some reductions of strength are necessary. I am hopeful that the majority of the redundant men can be absorbed in other departments of the Ordnance Factories at Woolwich, but in the case of certain skilled men this will probably be impossible unless the men concerned find themselves able to accept semi-skilled or unskilled work. As regards departments of the factories other than the Carriage Department, no general measure of discharges is in prospect.
§ Sir K. WOODWill the Financial Secretary say what steps he proposes to take to find employment for those men who are unable to take advantage of the suggestion he has made?
§ Mr. LAWSONI am not in a position to make any statement on that matter at the moment. I think I ought to say that the minimum staff is 6,600, and the present number is more than 2,000 over that.
§ Captain Viscount CURZONIs it the policy of the Government to provide employment by putting skilled men on unskilled work?