§ Mr. KELLYasked the Secretary of State for War whether a number of men employed in the saddlers' shop at the Royal Dockyard, Woolwich, have been discharged; and whether, seeing that there is a quantity of work for them still undone, numbering about 10,000 articles, which would carry them on until housing accommodation could be found for them at Didcot, he will reinstate the men and so avoid the necessity for them being placed on the unemployment State benefit whilst their labour could be utilised in producing work for State requirements?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI would refer the hon. Member to my reply on the 24th March to the hon. Member for East Woolwich (Mr. Snell). Twenty-eight men of this shop were discharged on 31st March and two others are under notice. There remain at present some 12 men, all of whom are pre-War employés. At the moment the work available is sufficient to provide employment for the latter number, but not more than sufficient; and I fear, therefore, that the hon. Member's suggestion is not one that I am in a position to adopt.