HC Deb 11 November 1929 vol 231 cc1534-6
78. Mr. MORLEY

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when he will be in a position to announce the Government's policy for providing alternative employment for those workers displaced by the anticipated reduction in naval armaments?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Ammon)

On the subject of the Government's policy generally, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given him by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 5th November (OFFICIAL REPORT, columns 805–6). The position in regard to the Royal Dock yards is as stated in reply to questions by the hon. Member for Gillingham (Sir R. Gower) on the 31st October (OFFICIAL REPORT, columns 333–4) and the hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha) on the 4th November (OFFICIAL REPORT, column 617).

Mr. MORLEY

In view of the specific and special nature of the position which is likely to arise through the reduction of Admiralty workmen, consequent upon reduction of naval armaments, does not the hon. Gentleman think that specific and special remedies should be applied to this unemployment apart from the proposals of the Lord Privy Seal?

Mr. AMMON

I think the hon. Gentle man is under a misapprehension. As a matter of fact, we are employing many more people in the Royal dockyards than at this time last year. No difficulty has arisen yet as regards labour.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

Is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty aware that he has inadvertently greatly exaggerated that figure?

Mr. AMMON

I will leave the House to judge. The numbers were 488. They are now: entered 463 against 88 discharged. We are employing more—

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

The hon. Gentleman has misunderstood me. He stated that the numbers employed were twice as great as those at this time last year. He is now talking about the numbers discharged by the present Government as compared with the numbers discharged by the late Government.

Mr. AMMON

The numbers entered in some of the dockyards reach nearly twice as many.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

Which ones?

Mr. AMMON

We actually have less discharges than we had 12 months ago, and we are entering more than twice as many.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

Can the hon. Gentleman mention any single dockyard where the figures are anything like twice what they were last year?

Mr. AMMON

Perhaps the hon. Gentle man will put down a question?

Lieut.-Colonel Sir A. LAMBERT WARD

Are these figures indicative of the Government's announced policy of disarmament?

Mr. THORNE

Can my hon. Friend say whether there have been any consultations with officials of the trade unions in regard to this particular question?

Mr. AMMON

There have been consultations with all the unions represented, and agreement has been reached whereby we have managed so far to prevent any discharges arising.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

Is it in order for a Minister to make a specific statement that the numbers of employed in certain dockyards are twice as many as they were last year and, when asked to give information, to say that he does not know, or that he has not got it?

Mr. AMMON

I did not say that I did not know. I asked that the hon. Member should put down the question on the Paper.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

The hon. Gentleman did, in his statement.

Mr. ALLEN

Will the hon. Gentleman undertake that alternative work should be found at Admiralty dockyards so as not to displace labour on the Tyne side, and in the Clyde and Belfast dockyards?