§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions, (1) whether the male employés of the Edmonton Munitions Company were given to understand by the Munitions Department that they were entitled to money claimed under the award amounting to about £1,000, and that it rested with their employer to make the application for it, which would be granted, and that the employer would be notified accordingly: (2) for what reason the finding of the arbitration commission in the case of the male employés of the Edmonton Munitions Company was "claim unestablished," when the commission admitted the point on which the claim was contested by the employer; (3) whether a full investigation of the case of the male employés of the Edmonton Munitions Company will be held in view of the fact that the men concerned are prepared to submit details and evidence in support of their claim; (4) whether he is aware that a strong feeling exists in the district in regard to the manner in which the claim of the male employés of the Edmonton Munitions Company has been dealt with: and what he proposes to do in the matter.
Mr. J. HOPEIt does not appear that the Ministry of Munitions made any communication to the firm such as is suggested in the first question, but if my hon. Friend can furnish me with evidence on the point I will have further enquiry made. As regards the arbitration, which took place with the agreement of both parties, I am of course unaware of the grounds upon which the arbitrator based his finding that the claim was not established. As stated in the reply to my hon. Friend's question of the 22nd December last, it is not thought that any good purpose would be served by a public enquiry.