§ 27. Mr. Viantasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that within the past 12 months a large number of building trade operatives have been taken into employment in the Sheerness Dockyard; and will he state the reasons why about six weeks ago a number of them were placed on the hired list and compelled to be re-vaccinated, an operation which caused some of them a great deal of suffering and anxiety, in view of the fact that a number of them were discharged within a period of five weeks?
Mr. CooperAccording to the Home Dockyard Regulations, all fresh entrants into the dockyard are to be re-vaccinated or are to produce evidence that they have been successfully vaccinated or re-vaccinated within the past five years. This rule does not apply to men entered for casual or temporary service. The men concerned were transferred to the hired list after a period of casual employment, in the expectation that continuous employment would be found for them and were accordingly vaccinated. Unfortunately, owng to circumstances which could not be foreseen at the time, this 2189 expectation was not fulfilled, and 37 men on the hired list have recently been discharged. Of these, eight have subsequently found employment in other departments of Sheerness Dockyard.
§ Mr. ViantAm I to assume from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that the Department are so lacking in business ability as to be unable to judge their requirements five weeks ahead?
Mr. CooperThe arrangements made afterwards made it impossible to take on these men for another period.