HC Deb 05 June 1957 vol 571 cc108-9W
111. Miss Vickers

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty for what reason a fortnight's notice is being given to twenty painters, seven carpenters, eight masons, two plumbers between the ages of 25–29 years, and to four carpenters, five painters, one mason, two plumbers, and one blacksmith over the age of 65 years in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport.

Mr. T. G. D. Galbraith:

These discharges, which represent about 2½ per cent. of the total labour force in the Civil Engineering Department at Devonport, have been necessitated by a reduction in repair and maintenance work.

Miss Vickers

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether it was with his authority that the Admiral Superintendent of Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, in a statement of 28th May, expressed confidence that, if and when redundancy arose in the dockyard, there would be no dismissals but that it would be met by normal wastage.

Mr. T. G. D. Galbraith:

As the public accounts of the Admiral Superintendent's remarks make clear, he was careful to emphasise that he was expressing no more than his personal opinion.