§ Major HORE-BELISHAasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware of the discouragement caused to hired men in the royal dockyards owing to the small prospect that these men have of becoming established; whether he can see his way to inquire into the whole question of establishment in the royal dockyards, in order to increase the facilities for establishment; and whether, in the meanwhile, he will take steps to modify A.F.O. 553/22, which limits the filling of vacancies upon the established list to one appointment for eight vacancies?
Mr. ALEXANDERI regret that the entry to the established list has had to be restricted because, owing to the great expansion of the dockyards before and during the War, a very large number of the men now employed are established, which is heavily in excess of the proportion previously fixed. But in order that establishment shall not be entirely suspended for some years to come it was decided, some two years ago, that one vacancy in eight might be filled, notwithstanding the excess. I regret that I am not able to authorise any further concession.