§ Mr. FORRESTasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether, in case of reductions at dockyards, he will recommend that the individuals selected as redundant should be given the opportunity of transfer, if on the established staff, irrespective of age, and that no man on the established staff shall be retrenched so long as any hired workman is retained; and whether he will further consider making this rule universal at all dockyards?
§ Commander EYRES-MONSELLIn carrying out the necessary reductions at the dockyards, it is the general practice before regarding any established man as redundant first to dispense with the services of hired men of the same class; but there are special exceptions in cases where the interests of efficiency are materially served by retaining the services of particular hired men, and it is not proposed to make it an absolute rule that the services of every hired man should be dispensed with before any established man is deemed redundant. At 49W Pembroke Dock and Rosyth, where a number of established men are redundant, those under 50 years of age are given the option of transfer to other yards or discharge with superannuation allowances; those over 50 years of age are discharged to pension without option of transfer.