§ Sir K. WOODasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what arrangements have been made on the evacuation of Woolwich Dockyard in relation to safeguarding the interests of the workers at present employed; and whether they include provisions for the retention of such workers?
§ Mr. LAWSONThe effect of the evacuation of Woolwich Dockyard on the staff concerned has been under examination by a Committee, on which the employés are represented. From an interim Report which the Committee have presented, dealing mainly with the ease of war and post-war entrants it is, I regret to say, clear that a considerable number of discharges is inevitable as a result of closing the dockyard, although efforts are being made to find temporary work for some of the men concerned in other departments at Woolwich. The Committee has not yet reported on the position of the pre-War entrants.