§ 9. Mr. HICKSasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the number of workers who were employed normally at the Army Clothing Factory, Pimlico; the number that have been discharged to date; and the number found employment?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Duff Cooper)The average number of industrial workers employed at the Royal Army Clothing Factory during the last few years has been about 1,000. No discharges have yet taken place in consequence of the decision to close the factory, but discharges totalling 306 have taken place since the beginning of December, 1931, mainly due to shortage of work. I am unable to say how many of these workers have obtained employment, but I am informed that 29 have 9 actually been placed by the Ministry of Labour, and 34 others are traced as having passed from the Ministry of Labour's registers into employment.
§ Mr. LAWSONWhen is it expected that these discharges will begin?
§ Mr. COOPERAt the end of this month.
§ 10. Mr. HICKSasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the experimental orders placed with the trade for making full-dress clothing have been successful; and what decision has been reached with regard to the establishment of a clothing factory at Woolwich?
§ Mr. COOPERIt is too early to say whether the experiment is likely to be successful, and the establishment of a factory cannot be considered until the result of the experiment is known.
§ 11. Mr. LAWSONasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if any of the staff or employés at the Royal Army Clothing Factory, Pimlico, have been transferred to the Royal Army Ordnance Factory, Didcot; and, if so, will he state tile number, together with particulars as to the various grades of officials and other employés transferred?
§ Mr. COOPERNo personnel of the Clothing Factory at Pimlico have yet been transferred to Didcot.