§ Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the conditions of service of the men who were employed in the Royal Ordnance Department, Dublin, were that they were practically guaranteed employment until the age of 60; that some of the men recently discharged on account of the change of government have served periods ranging up to 33 years; that no previous case is known of the discharge of men except for misconduct; that these men, including the pre-War regularly employed men, have not been given the option of transfer to other depots in Northern Ireland and Great Britain, but were given the offer of having their names entered upon waiting lists in the event of vacancies arising; and that the fact that these men received their gratuity is proof that they were not offered employment elsewhere; and whether, in view of these circumstances, he will reconsider the decision that no further assistance can be given and let the men have a reply to the claim for compensation which they have sent in?
§ Mr. GWYNNEI think the hon. Member has been misinformed. As I explained before, it is not the case that Army Ordnance Department employés are guaranteed employment until the age of 60, or that none of them have in the past been discharged when work has no longer been available for them. I regret that I am not in a position to reconsider the general decision, but if the hon. Member cares to furnish me with names and other particulars of any pre-War employés who are alleged not to have had the option to transfer to other depots, I shall be glad to look into the individual cases. A reply to the communications recently received is about to be sent.