§ 10. Mr. PARKINSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of persons discharged from His Majesty's dockyards in the 12 months ending 31st October; and what steps have been taken to provide them with alternative employment?
§ The CIVIL LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Captain Euan Wallace)During the period 1st November, 1931, to 31st October, 1932, natural wastage excluded, 1,450 persons were discharged at Portsmouth, 926 at Devonport, 1,135 at Chatham and 424 at Sheerness. Owing to the fluctuations in the work, entries and discharges are constantly being made, and 1112 the same individual may be discharged and re-entered several times a year. During the period mentioned, 1,781 persons were entered at Portsmouth, 1,241 at Devonport, 1,503 at Chatham, and 445 at Sheerness. Most of these would be re-entries. The Admiralty is not in a position to provide alternative employment, but whenever possible discharges are avoided by transfers to vacancies in other departments.
§ Mr. PARKINSONMay I ask whether the people who have been discharged are given preference over other people when there is further employment?
§ Captain WALLACEIt all depends on what trades they are. We try to avoid turning men off work wherever possible.