Rosyth Dockyard (Temporary Staff)

Oral Answers to Questions — Royal Navy – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 16 March 1949.

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Photo of Mrs Lucy Middleton Mrs Lucy Middleton , Plymouth, Sutton 12:00, 16 March 1949

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many established non-industrial Admiralty employees, who were sent to the Rosyth Dockyard during the war as temporary additional staff, have not yet been returned to the home-yards from which they were drafted.

Photo of Mr Walter Edwards Mr Walter Edwards , Stepney Whitechapel and St George's

There are approximately 100 established Admiralty employees in non-industrial grades who were sent to Rosyth Dockyard during the war and are still employed there. This number includes transferees from the Admiralty, foreign yards and non-dockyard establishments as well as transferees from other home yards. In the time available it has not been possible to divide the number into its several component parts. I should make it clear that the majority of established non-industrial employees are on general lists and, being liable to service at any naval establishment, have no expectation of returning to their previous establishment. Draughtsmen borne on separate dockyard lists are not liable to serve at other yards except in emergency, and the number of draughtsmen now at Rosyth who were appointed there from southern yards during the war is seven.

Photo of Mrs Lucy Middleton Mrs Lucy Middleton , Plymouth, Sutton

Is my hon. Friend aware that my Question asks about temporary additional staff, and not about those who were sent there permanently? Is my hon. Friend further aware that there is a considerable sense of grievance amongst some of these men because they were promised that they would be returned home when the war ended, and will my hon. Friend do something to expedite the return of those men who were transferred temporarily?

Photo of Mr Walter Edwards Mr Walter Edwards , Stepney Whitechapel and St George's

It is very difficult to sort out the temporary transferees and those who were transferred in the normal way. That is why I have not been able to give the figures. I can assure my hon. Friend that we have no information at the Admiralty of this expressed desire to return on the part of those people who have gone to Rosyth.

Photo of Sir James Henderson-Stewart Sir James Henderson-Stewart , Fife Eastern

Why should these men wish to transfer from Rosyth when they now have the privilege of living in the kingdom of Fife?

Photo of Colonel Sir Alan Gomme-Duncan Colonel Sir Alan Gomme-Duncan , Perth

Does the retention of these people in Rosyth indicate that the Government are shortly going to make a decision about the retention of Rosyth as a full-time Royal Dockyard?

Photo of Mr Walter Edwards Mr Walter Edwards , Stepney Whitechapel and St George's

That is a different question altogether.