§ Mr. R. Beaumontasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware 1618W that a recent Admiralty order required casual workers in His Majesty's dockyards to report sick if suffering from influenza; that if a casual worker goes sick he is automatically discharged from his employment; and whether he will reconsider these regulations with a view to preventing hardship?
§ Sir S. HoareNo such order has been issued by the Admiralty. It is true that when a workman who has been entered for casual employment falls sick his employment terminates, owing to the fact that there can be no certainty of work being available for him on his recovery. Though, however, no guarantee of reemployment can be given, men so discharged may, of course, apply for further employment when certified fit for work again, and the chances of re-employment are at present good. Moreover, an order has recently been issued that casual employé with three months' continuous service or more may be granted unpaid leave at the rate of not more than two days in any calendar month up to a limit of fourteen days in a year, and such leave may be used to cover short absences through sickness.