§ 2.35 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF LUCANMy Lords, on behalf of my noble Leader, Lord Alexander of Hillsborough, I beg to ask the Question which stands in his name on the. Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how many men at present employed in Admiralty Dockyards are over the age of sixty-five years in (a)established categories, and (b) unestablished categories.]
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD MANCROFT)My Lords, no men in an established capacity are at present employed in the Admiralty Dockyards over the age of sixty-five. Of the unestablished men employed, 1,800 are over the age of sixty-five.
§ THE EARL OF LUCANMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply. Could he say whether Her Majesty's Government have considered employing the younger unestablished men in place of the older men, instead of closing down some of the Dockyards?
§ LORD MANCROFTYes, my Lords, that point has been carefully considered. I must remind the noble Earl that in conditions of redundancy, the first men to go are those over sixty-five, whether they were formerly established or not.