§ 11. Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for War why he is closing down 37 Base Workshops, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Woolwich; and where he is transferring the work previously done by this unit.
§ Mr. John HareThe closure is due to a general reduction in repair work as the reorganisation of the Army proceeds. The work remaining will be distributed among other base workshops.
§ Mr. MayhewWhat action is the Secretary of State taking, in conjunction with the Ministry of Labour, to assist those displaced to get alternative work?
§ Mr. HareThe normal redundancy procedure will operate, and we shall, of course, do everything that we can to help the staff concerned.
§ Mr. BottomleyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in common with other Service Ministries, his Department is making these cuts piecemeal? Can he say whether he has been given an instruction by the Minister of Defence not to show the full extent of the economies 394 being made by showing them in one statement at the proper time?
§ Mr. HareNo, I do not accept what the right hon. Gentleman has just said. It is inevitable for these establishments to run down as the size of the Service runs down. We are trying to give people proper and adequate notice, and shall continue to do so, and shall certainly do all we can to place the staffs concerned.