§ Mr. NEWMANasked the Secretary of State for War whether a promise was given during the recent Parliament by him to the employés at the Royal Arms Factory, Enfield, that the establishment should not be reduced below a minimum of 2,000; and, if so, whether he will explain why the establishment is now substantially below that number?
§ Mr. HALDANEThe limits of establishment for Enfield are 1,900 to 2,000 as stated by Mr. Buchanan in answer to a question put by Mr. Crooks on 25th July, 1907. This establishment was intended as the normal one for which work would be found; but there was no undertaking that, if wastage reduced the numbers a any time below such establishments, the vacancies would be filled up.
§ Mr. NEWMANasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a number of young men who have been in employment at the Enfield Small Arms Factory from between the ages of fourteen and sixteen years are now, on attaining the age of twenty-one years, under notice of dismissal; and whether, bearing in view the automatic discharge of employés on reaching the age limit and the consequent reduction of establishment, he can see his way to temporarily retaining these young men on the books of the establishment with a view to their ultimate absorption?
§ Mr. HALDANEAs I informed the House in reply to a question put by the hon. and gallant Member for Woolwich on 22nd March, boys employed in the ordnance factories on reaching the age of twenty-one officially become men, and are then, if retained, classed as men and entitled to 23s. a week. If there are no vacancies for men, boys, on reaching the age of twenty-one, cannot be retained, and their engagement as boys automatically terminates. The suggestion to retain boys temporarily at Enfield on reaching twenty-one cannot be accepted, as there at present no vacancies for men, and there are not likely to be any vacancies in the near future.