HC Deb 20 February 1929 vol 225 cc1110-2
34. Mrs. DALTON

asked the Minister of Labour whether records are kept by his Department with regard to the transference of men from mining areas showing how long each man start in his first job and the details of his subsequent employment or unemployment, as the case may be?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

No special records are kept for this purpose.

Mrs. DALTON

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that without this information it is impossible to estimate the permanent value of this transference scheme?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

No; when we place people in what are continuing jobs, it is an almost impossible task to keep track of every person from one job to another, and, from the information at our disposal, the work is going on sufficiently fell and does not need it.

Mr. WALLHEAD

Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to see that the men who are transferred to jobs provided by the Minister of Health are adequately clothed and booted?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

In matters of clothing and boots, the Lord Mayor's Fund—

Mr. SPEAKER

That really does not arise out of the question.

Mr. MARDY JONES

Are steps taken when men are transferred from the mining areas to other districts to see that the wages paid are trade union rates?

Mr. SPEAKER

That again does not arise out of the question.

Mr. LANSBURY

Has the right hon. Gentleman taken action along the lines which he partially promised me, namely, to take samples from various towns as to what has become, or is becoming, of the men who are transferred? I put a simple question, and I was told that the right hon. Gentleman or the Parliamentary Secretary would try and track them.

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I am not aware of it, but I will look to see if I ever said anything of the kind.

Mr. LANSBURY

If the right hon. Gentleman did not, the Parliamentary Secretary did.

Mr. PALING

Is it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman has been asked for information on these lines time after time since the Transference Board came into operation, and that he has not been able to give it; and, as we cannot judge whether the scheme is a success or not without the information, is it not worth while compiling it?

Mr. WALLHEAD

Is it the practice of the right hon. Gentleman's Department to force men to take jobs that other men have refused because of the rotten conditions under which employment is given?

Mr. SPEAKER

That does not arise out of the question.

39. Mr. R. YOUNG

asked the Minister of Labour whether any youths have been sent from Birkenhead or other industrial centres to Wrexham; if so, can he give the numbers sent from such places; whether the wages paid are sufficient for their maintenance; and whether any additional amount is being paid to them or their employers out of the Lord Mayor's Relief Fund?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

No youths from Birkenhead have been sent to employment in a coal mine at Wrexham, but three youths have been sent from Accrington and one from Maryport. I cannot say precisely what wages are being received by them but I have no reason to suppose that the wages are insufficient to cover the cost of maintenance. No grant has been paid to these youths or to the employer from the Lord Mayor's Fund.

Mr. PALING

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether these people had previously been employed in or about a mine?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

Not without notice being given to me.