7. Surgeon Lieut.-Commander Bennettasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what cuts he is intending to make in the civilian staffs of the Admiralty yards and establishments at Gosport, Fareham and Lee-on-Solent.
§ Mr. W. J. EdwardsThe financial provision for salaries and wages proposed for 1950–51 will probably call for some reductions in Admiralty establishments in this area, as well as elsewhere, particularly 1935 in numbers borne on Vote 4. It is, however, too early to give any precise forecast beyond saying that substantial discharges are unlikely to be called for in any one area at any time.
Surgeon Lieut.-Commander BennettWill the hon. Gentleman please bear in mind that in reaching this decision there are very few alternative industries in the area named in the Question? There is, therefore, little chance of people discharged from the dockyards being directed into other forms of employment.
§ Mr. EdwardsThat is always borne in mind, but it cannot always be a governing factor. If the Vote 4 amount for that particular area is reduced correspondingly with other areas in the country they will have to bear their share.