§ 97 and 98. Mr. Fairhurstasked the Secretary of State for War (1) the reason for his decision to close down the Earl Mill, Military Clothing Centre, Oldham;
(2) for what reason has the usual routine methods of tendering one month's preliminary warning of redundancy and one month's actual notice of discharge to departmental staffs not being followed in the case of those employed at the Earl Mill, Oldham.
§ 133. Mr. Haleasked the Secretary of State for War what are the terms of a notice given to the employees at the Earl Mill, Oldham, demobilisation centre; and what steps are being taken to find them alternative employment.
§ Mr. LawsonOwing to the reduced rate of release it has been possible to reorganise the release machinery in this country and, as a result the Military Dispersal Unit at Ashton-under-Lyne will no longer be required after the beginning of July. The clothing depot at Earl Mill, Oldham, which served this dispersal centre, will therefore be closed down at the same time and the premises will then be used for War Department storage purposes. The decision to294W close the clothing depot on 6th July was taken towards the end of May and it was, therefore, only possible to give the employees entitled to a month's notice about two weeks';yarning in addition to the formal period of notice. The preliminary warning in addition to notice is not a rule, although it is given where practicable. I understand that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour has arranged for those affected to be interviewed with a view to placing them in alternative employment.