§ 15 and 16. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) whether, in view of the recent discharges of apprentices just out of their time at His Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, the Admiralty propose to advertise the dockyard entrance examination for next April and offer 50 or 60 appointments for apprentices; and whether the Admiralty will reconsider the advisability of taking this course under the present circumstances;
(2) whether he is aware of the anxiety felt by the schoolmasters in Devonport at the hopelessness in the outlook of their most intelligent pupils who have hitherto been encouraged in their studies by the prospect of a career in His Majesty's service in the dockyard; and whether he will consider the position of 1834 the young men in Devonport who in normal circumstances would be going into the dockyard, and draw up a plan covering some years ahead so that there may be more certainty of employment for apprentices at the end of their training?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe numbers of apprentices to be entered in His Majesty's Dockyards next year have not yet been fixed. In determining the numbers for each dockyard, the Admiralty will take into account, as far as possible, the anticipated state of employment in the respective dockyards during and immediately after the apprenticeship of the new entrants; but it is not possible to determine, with assurance, the numbers of employés required in five years' time. No undertaking can be given committing the present or a future Board of Admiralty to the retention of workmen who have served their appenticeship in the dockyards if and when it is necessary to make discharges.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the great disappointment of these young men, who are encouraged to take a special course and give proof of the highest ability, if the moment they are taken out of the dockyard they are discharged without any prospect of employment?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIt is one of the unfortunate consequences of economy, but I do think that these apprentices are able to learn work which is, I hope, very useful to them in dockyards outside.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHACould the right hon. Gentleman not make plans for some time ahead, so that schoolmasters might know what the prospects are?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have already said that it is impossible to make plans for five years ahead.
§ Sir A. SHIRLEY BENNMay I ask whether the First Lord can see his way to retain some of the ex-apprentices who are being discharged and lower the number of new entrants?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI will consider what the hon. Member has said. I do not quite realise what the effect of his proposal would be, but I will take it into consideration.
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will take steps to increase our scale of armaments in order to satisfy the desires of the Liberal party?