§ Mr. HAYDAYasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has received any complaints from Portsmouth regarding the discharge of women from His Majesty's dockyard; whether he is aware that those women are being discharged faster than work can be found for them; and whether he will consider the advisability of extending the time for further discharges?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWe have received complaints. But my hon. Friend will realise that it has become necessary to effect reductions in the number of workpeople employed in the Royal dockyard and naval establishments during the War.
578WIt is, of course, our duty to carry out these reductions with as little hardship as the situation permits.
We have given instructions that the reductions should take place in the following order:
- (1) Those who are not industrial workers of necessity.
- (2) Those who, having left their former employment for their present employment during the War, can now be reabsorbed in the industries in which they were formerly employed.
- (3) Of the remainder, those who have responsibilities to their families and who have little or no assistance other than that which they themselves can earn in meeting those responsibilities should be retained till the last.