asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many persons employed in the Royal dockyards have left their employment during the last six months on reaching the age of 65 years; and how many of these were invited to continue their employment in accordance with the Government's declared policy of asking persons to continue at work after their normal retiring age.

Three hundred and seventy-two workers have been discharged on grounds of "age" at 65 from the Home Dockyards during the past six months. A further 68 "over-age" workers were permitted to continue in employment for special reasons. As regards the second part of the Question, the hon. and gallant Member is no doubt aware that the normal retiring age for industrial workers in Admiralty employment was raised from 60 to 65 in March last year

In view of the Prime Minister's appeal for everyone to stay on as long as they can, why is the Admiralty sticking to the letter of the law and dismissing them at 65?

I am quite certain that there are many hon. Members on both sides of the House who will take the view that Government Departments should decrease the number of people whom they have in their employment, so that they may go into other industries. Nevertheless, we have increased the age from 60 to 65 and that has been done in agreement with the trade unions concerned, from whom we have had no complaints.

Is there any arrangement with the Minister of Labour for the easy absorption of these people when they leave dockyard employment, whatever the retiring age may be?

We have liaison with the Ministry of Labour when it comes to the question of discharging people, and where possible, I think the Ministry of Labour tries to place them.

Would it not be possible to have a medical examination of all men at 65 who are about to retire, and who want to work on and are capable of being kept on in industry, and so eliminate all the troubles which the Prime Minister referred to in his broadcast last night?

There is a difficulty in the Royal dockyards. We are reducing the numbers, but the more we keep on over the age of 65, the more we shall get complaints by the younger people that there is a lack of opportunities for promotion. We have had that suggestion from some of the trade union people involved, and I cannot see that the suggestion of the hon. and gallant Gentleman is practicable.