asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why the Admiralty is adopting the practice of degrading skilled men to the status and pay of unskilled labourers in the Government establishments?

I cannot accept the hon. Member's description of Admiralty practice. Work as skilled labourers has been offered to and accepted by certain craftsmen who would otherwise have to be discharged. It seems to me a beneficent arrangement.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary undertake to see that men of peculiar aptitude are not degraded in this way, because the country is hound to suffer in the end?

I am anxious to see that men of peculiar aptitude are not placed amongst the unemployed.

If these men are put on unskilled work, are the unskilled men to be discharged?

The hon. Member must give me notice of that question.

Does the hon. Member not consider it more important to keep skilled men on rather than unskilled men?