§ 46. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Prime Minister whether the Government intends to apply the proposals of his circular to employers asking them to retain and engage as many men as possible in Government establishments?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe procedure advocated in the appeal to employers, namely, that as far as possible any available employment should be offered to men and boys from the depressed areas, has been applied to Government establishments where this procedure is practicable.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIs the Prime Minister aware that at the very moment he was writing his letter to private employers he was discharging men from the 488 Devonport Dockyard, and does he not think that this course is hardly likely to convince private employers of the genuineness of his letter?
Viscountess ASTORDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that there is much less chance of discharges in the Devonport Dockyard under this Government than under any other?
§ Sir B. PETOIs it not a fact that the party opposite, to which the hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha) belongs, proposes to reduce expenditure on naval and military forces by 840,000,000 a year?