§ Major CAYZERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether steps are being taken to discharge the men from the dockyards who were sent into the dockyards by order of the military tribunals so as to re-employ the ex-Service men who were previously employed at the dockyards; and whether he can give an assurance that these men will not be retained to the detriment of the ex-Service 52W men, especially seeing that the majority have also thriving businesses which are being carried on on their behalf?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMen who were employed in the dockyards prior to the War, and were released for military service, were in general retained on the dockyard books while serving in the military forces and were paid their civil pay, less the pay of a private. These men, on being released from the military forces, are permitted to resume their civil employment in the dockyard as a matter of course. For the rest, men who entered the dockyard service after the outbreak of war, and were subsequently released for military service, are considered by us, and will be considered by us, with due regard to the length and nature of their military service, for any vacancy which may arise. My hon. and gallant Friend is, of course, aware that, at the present time, so far from taking on new employés we are in the regrettable position of having to reduce our numbers.