§ 18. Sir BERTRAM FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that a number of men, some of long service and War service, are being discharged from the Royal Dockyard, Portsmouth; and if this is due to lack of work or of funds, and if these discharges are to continue?
Mr. ALEXANDERI regret that it has been necessary to discharge within the last month 116 men from the works department at Portsmouth owing to the completion of a number of works. There may be a smaller number of additional discharges for the same reason.
§ Commander SOUTHBYWould not this be a reason for expediting the new construction?
Mr. ALEXANDERThe hon. and gallant Gentleman is under a misapprehension. The men discharged are not engaged on naval construction, but in the works department. For some years there has been an increase in the number of buildings and general work in operation, and that work has come to an end.