§ 44. Mr. SNELLasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, in connection with the proposed evacuation of the Royal Dockyard at Woolwich, a number of soldiers' widows who have been employed there for many years have received notices of discharge; that many men employed in the saddlery department, some of whom are disabled ex-service men who have many years of unbroken service, are also under notice of discharge; and whether he will suspend discharges in the Royal Dockyard so as to enable him to consider the possibility of transferring these employés to other departments in the Royal Arsenal?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS32 soldiers' widows and 30 saddlers are under notice of discharge on 31st March, and every effort has already been made to find them employment elsewhere. This is in accordance with the recommendations of a Committee which was specially set up to consider the effect of the evacuation of Woolwich on Army Ordnance Department employés and which, contained among its members representatives of the employés. A few men have been absorbed in another establishment and it has been found possible to defer the discharge of the women for a short time. But apart from this, I regret that there is no alternative to their discharge.