§ Mr. OLIVERasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, 2083W as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware that the recent discharge of furniture porters employed by his Department was not in accordance with the usual practice, that is, to discharge men junior in service first; that these men were discharged during the general strike because they refused to unload coal, although they carried out their other duties; and, in view of the Prime Minister's appeal for peace and reconciliation, will he consider the reinstating of these men at the earliest possible occasion?
§ Captain HACKINGThe First Commissioner wishes to deny the statement that the usual practice was not followed in the selection of the furniture porters to whom notices of discharge were given during the general strike, or that any of the notices were given because the men refused to unload coal. The sole reason for giving the notices was the diminution in the work proper to furniture porters, and, in accordance with usual practice, the junior of the least suitable and least efficient men were selected. The last part of the question does not arise.