HC Deb 10 November 1927 vol 210 cc389-90W
Mr. SNELL

asked the Secretary of 'State for War if he is aware that considerable overtime is being worked by engineering employés in Woolwich Arsenal; and whether, having regard to the heavy charge of local relief for unemployed men, he will consider the possibility of reducing this by the absorption of unemployed men and the suspension of the existing overtime work?

Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

The overtime at the ordnance factories is restricted to the narrowest limits. It is confined to maintenance work on plant and machinery which cannot be done in factory hours, to work necessary to ensure a proper flow of work between workmen whose jobs are interdependent, and to finishing off urgent orders. I fear that the suggestion contained in the second part of the question is not practicable.