HC Deb 28 October 1952 vol 505 cc201-2W
101 and 102. Mr. D. Jones

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) whether he is aware that the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes dismissed from their employ a waitress employed at Thornaby canteen, without notice or wages in lieu of same, because she declined to continue at work for a further period, after having been on duty for 14 hours, with only one break of four hours, which took place between the sixth and tenth hours of her turn of duty; that the waitress in question did so refuse because no prior notice had been given to her; and whether he will take steps to have this matter reconsidered by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes;

(2) whether he is aware that Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes have refused to conduct an inquiry at Thornaby into the alleged wrongful dismissal of a waitress, who declined to remain on duty after having been on duty for 14 hours; and whether he will, in view of the conflicting evidence, institute an inquiry at which a representative of the dismissed waitress can be present.

Mr. Ward

As I explained to the hon. Member in my letter of 22nd October, these matters are the domestic concern of N.A.A.F.I. and I have no power to intervene.

For a full statement on the degree of Ministerial control over N.A.A.F.I., I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for War on 17th November, 1949.