HC Deb 18 March 1930 vol 236 cc1896-7
31. Sir K. WOOD

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has any plans for the employment of displaced labour due to armament reductions?

Mr. THOMAS

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave on the 4th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton (Mr. R. Morley).

Sir K. WOOD

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman go into this matter a little further? Is he aware that already in Woolwich the Government have indicated that there is a possibility of heavy discharges from the Arsenal, and cannot some special consideration be given in a matter of that kind?

Mr. THOMAS

I know nothing of the special circumstances of Woolwich, but the last answer I gave to this broad general question was that the Government could not take the responsibility of giving special consideration to any section of people unemployed. It would not be fair, it could not be administered, and I do not think the House would agree with it.

Sir ASSHETON POWNALL

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the extra labour at Woolwich Arsenal to be displaced in the near future will be in addition to the 100,000 which it was stated last month would be thrown out of work in the country as a whole?

Mr. SPEAKER

That question ought to be put on the Paper.

Colonel GRETTON

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the answer he has given and take into account those workpeople thrown out of work by the action of the Government?