§ 34. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he 1141 is aware that 68 discharged workers from the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield and Waltham Abbey are receiving relief from the Edmonton Board of Guardians to the amount of approximately £70 per week; that all of these workers have had over 15 years' Government service and 15 of them over 40 years' service; and whether he is prepared to make any special provision for these old employés in order that they may not have to seek further Poor Law relief?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Captain Douglas King)I regret to hear of the distress existing among workers discharged from the Royal Small Arms Factories at Waltham and Enfield, but it is not possible for me to make any payments to them beyond those to which they are entitled under the conditions of their service, and which they have already received.
§ Mr. MORRISONDoes not the hon. and gallant Gentleman think it very unfair that a poor district should be saddled with a cost of £70 a week to maintain people some of whom have given 40 years' service to the Government?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWhy is it that the Government set such a bad example to private employers in these matters?