§ Mr. MARKHAMasked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence (1) whether any estimate can now be given of the number of men who will be employed at the King's Meadow factory, Nottingham; and what proportion of this labour is likely to be drawn from the Nottingham city area;
(2) what conditions have been laid down with regard to the recruitment of labour for the King's Meadow factory at Nottingham; and whether age or residence limits are being applied?
Mr. COOPERSo far as can be estimated at present the number of all grades ultimately to be employed at His Majesty's Factory, Nottingham, will be in the neighbourhood of 3,000. Apart from personnel required to fill certain pivotal posts, who will be transferred from Woolwich, it is the intention to recruit the employés required under the normal procedure through the local Employment Exchange, to the maximum extent possible. Under this procedure the Employment Exchange in the normal course submits primarily names of local residents, and preference will be given to ex-servicemen, wherever suitable, in accordance with the usual practice. The normal maximum age for recruitment at War Department establishments is 45 years, but it is probable that the requirements of the labour situation will necessitate departures from this limit at Nottingham. No other conditions have been laid down as regards either age or residence. It is not possible at this stage to state more precisely what proportion of the labour required will be found from the Nottingham city area.