§ 19. Mr. DUNCANasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that one considerable cause of unemployment in dockyard towns is the employment of naval ratings to do work that at one time was done by civilian labour, such work being the staging of ships for painting and the cleaning of ships; whether he will consider the possibility of reversing the present practice, especially in view of the appeal made to all employers by the Prime Minister to find employment for those at present unemployed; and is he aware that the present financial drain on the State unemployment fund is aggravated by the Admiralty's action in this way and their failure to give employment to those signing at the Employment Exchanges in dockyard towns?
§ 23. Mr. W. THORNEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that naval ratings are being employed on painting work in the dockyards which has usually been done by civilian labour; and whether, in view of the fact that a large number of painters in dockyard towns are unemployed, he can see his way clear to discontinue the practice of employing naval ratings on this class of work?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Lieut.-Colonel Headlam)I may remind the hon. Members that it is the long-standing practice for all work on board His Majesty's ships which is within the capacity of the naval ratings forming the ships' staffs to be carried out by them, and there is no intention of reversing this practice. During the War, this practice had to be modified, but with the return to peace conditions naval ratings were able again to follow the former practice and do the work in connection with the running repairs, the cleaning, etc., of His Majesty's ships, and the general maintenance of the ships in sea-going condition. Whenever the work is beyond the capacity of naval ratings, or when such ratings are not available to carry out such large items as painting the ship, etc., civilian labour is employed. I cannot agree that this practice is a cause of unemployment, or that naval ratings should be allowed to remain idle on board their ships merely to provide work for civilian labour.
§ Mr. DUNCANIs there not other work with which naval ratings could be busy while civilians could do this work?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMThe whole point is that there is not.