§ 9. Miss Vickersasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will make a statement in regard to the policy of the Admiralty concerning dilutee shipwrights, established and non-established who are at present serving their apprenticeship in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport.
§ Mr. T. G. D. GalbraithDilutee shipwrights, whether established or not, are eligible for regrading as full craftsmen after seven years' service as dilutees. Provided they are still serving as dilutees and are considered suitable for regrading by the management and by the trade union concerned, 79 dilutees in Devonport Dockyard will be regraded as craftsmen in 1959 and 32 in 1960.
§ Miss VickersI believe that there are about 110 dilutee shipwrights at present who are nearing the completion of their seven years apprenticeship. Will they be given shipwright appointments, or will they have to revert to being drillers, caulkers and riveters? Will the non-established men work outside the yard or be re-employed in the yard?
§ Mr. GalbraithMy hon. Friend has already written me a letter on these points, to which I hope to be able to reply in the next few days.