§ Mr. C. DUNCANasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that, although the decision as regards the taking of the oath of allegiance was confined to Civil servants in Government offices, workmen in His Majesty's dockyards have been called upon to take the oath also; whether this was done under a misapprehension; whether the Order has now been withdrawn; and whether he can give an assurance that those workmen who were compelled to take the oath have in no way prejudiced their freedom as workmen and trade unionists?
§ Mr. PRETYMANOwing to a misunderstanding, the instructions originally issued to the dockyards on this subject were so framed as to make it appear that they applied to established workmen equally with other classes of established Civil servants. The dockyards were subsequently informed that workmen were not affected by the order. I can give my hon. Friend an unqualified assurance that workmen who have taken the oath have in no way prejudiced their freedom cither as workmen or as trade unionists.