§ Sir K. WOODasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office how many employés at the Woolwich Arsenal and Dockyard will be affected by the evacuation of the Royal Dockyard; and what other employment will be available for them?
§ Mr. LAWSONI cannot at present add anything to the reply given to the hon. Member's previous question of 24th July.
§ Sir K. WOODasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he proposes to continue to offer semi-skilled or unskilled work to skilled men at the Woolwich Arsenal; and what provision he is making for work for the semi-skilled and unskilled workers who have been or are about to be discharged?
§ Mr. LAWSONWhen discharges on account of shortage of work are under consideration, the policy of the Department is to endeavour to find alternative work for all men, of all degrees of skill, who might otherwise have to be discharged. The alternative work sought for skilled men is, as far as possible, skilled work, but other work, if available, is offered to them when no skilled work is available. If, however, no alternative work can be found for a man, or if the work found is declined by the man, he is necessarily discharged. In these arrangements no distinction is made between skilled and unskilled men (except of course that skilled work is not offered to men who do not possess the special qualifications for performing it), nor are unskilled men discharged in order that skilled men who would otherwise have to be discharged may take over their work. It is proposed to continue these arrangements, which represent the best the Department can do in the general interests of its employés.