§ Mr. J. DAVISONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware that practically all the men now under notice of dismissal from Woolwich Arsenal are ex-Service men; whether he can state how many men who entered the Arsenal whilst of military age during the War as unskilled workers and remained there are still employed in the Arsenal; and whether he will give instructions that no ex-Service men shall be discharged whilst men who entered the Arsenal during the War and did no military service are retained?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYTwo hundred and fifty men and boys are at present under notice of discharge from Woolwich Arsenal. Of this number only seven are ex-Service men. The number of unskilled workers of the type referred to in the second part of the question is 1,660, but 702 of these are, in fact, ex-Service men; the remainder are men who were either physically unfit or had been duly certified for other reasons as available for civil employment. Of the men who have been taken on at Woolwich Arsenal since the outbreak of war, disabled ex-Service men who had seen service overseas, will always receive preferential treatment in connection with any necessary discharges.