HC Deb 18 May 1939 vol 347 cc1591-2
9. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make inquiries of seaside resorts to discover whether proprietors of boarding houses anticipate a shortage of domestic servants during the holiday season, with a view to granting temporary permits to refugees to undertake such employment under reasonable conditions?

Mr. E. Brown

The inquiries which I have made do not indicate that this year the shortage of staff for hotels and boarding houses is likely to be greater than is usually experienced during holiday seasons. In these circumstances I can see no reason for departing from the general rule that permission should not be granted for the employment of foreigners, whether refugees or not, as domestic workers in hotels and boarding houses.

Mr. Sorensen

While appreciating the reasons advanced by the right hon. Gentleman, might I ask whether where there is a proved shortage of necessary domestic servants it is not desirable to grant a temporary permit?

Mr. Brown

I should not like to do that in the case of a rule of very long standing, very well-understood in the industry. The House will understand that one of the issues is that of conditions, and I would not like to give an answer under a rule of that kind.

Mr. Sorensen

Would the right hon. Gentleman distinguish between hotels on the one hand and boarding houses on the other, and would he take my assurance that there is a shortage of domestic servants in boarding houses?

Mr. Brown

That may be so, but that does not seem any valid reason why we should depart from a well-established rule unless all the other conditions of the rule are satisfied.

Sir Henry Morris-Jones

Would my right hon. Friend consider in what way the suggestion would help us to deal with the general problem?

Mr. Brown

This is the natural difficulty about seasonal workers. As my hon. Friend knows, we make very special efforts through the exchanges for this type of worker.

Mr. Rhys Davies

Would not it be easier to solve this problem if the conditions of employment were better?

Mr. Brown

I have pointed out that that is one of the issues I have to consider.