§ Sir A. WARRENasked the Prime Minister, if, in view of the appeal made to employers of labour to do all in their power to employ discharged ex-service men, the Government will have regard to the disabled ex-service men in the employ of the Royal Gunpowder Factory, Waltham Abbey, who by reason of their disablement are unable to obtain employment with private firms, and will take steps to have the dismissal of these men cancelled?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. There has been no production of cordite at the Royal Gunpowder Factory, Waltham Abbey, since shortly after the Armistice. The present establishment of the factory, which is mainly engaged in maintenance work, storage and despatch of surplus stocks, is 656, and is being reduced to 616, all of whom will be pre-War workers. The position will be reconsidered in March with a view to bringing the establishment down to about 500, which will be sufficient for any likely requirements of cordite in the near future. Owing to the special nature of the factory it is not practicable to find employment for a 861W larger number of workers. No promises can be given that men will be retained indefinitely if no suitable work can be found for them.