§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Chinese nationals are currently serving as laundrymen on Her Majesty's ships; and by whom they are employed. [13508]
§ Dr. ReidEmployment of laundry personnel is primarily a matter for the contractor, Worldwide Laundry Services (WLS). However, I am advised that there are currently 38 Chinese Nationals serving on HM Ships. Of this number, 25 are employed by WLS and the remaining 13, working on ships not yet taken up by WLS, are employed by the following contractors: Mr. Chick Shun Chui; Mr. Kang Shik Ming BEM; Mr. K. P. Lau BEM; Shao Brothers and Mr. Sung Sun Ching. We would expect the rolling programme of ships transferring to the new contract arrangements to be completed by February 1998.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ex-Gurkhas are currently serving as laundrymen on Her Majesty's ships; and by whom they are employed. [13506]
§ Dr. ReidThere are twenty eight ex-Gurkhas currently serving as laundrymen on HM Ships, employed by Worldwide Laundry Services (WLS).