§ Mr. GIBBSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the card index system was in use at all the Labour Exchanges, he would take steps to secure in future a return of all foreigners who had not been resident in the United Kingdom for at least six months who were placed in employment through the medium of the Exchanges?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD Of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)I do not think it desirable to comply with this suggestion. The questions asked of applicants are directed solely to the object of securing information as to the individual's industrial efficiency and his suitability for vacancies notified to the Exchange, and further questions should not be added without strong reason. Moreover, in the present case the replies given could not be verified.
§ Mr. GIBBSasked whether the managers of Labour Exchanges taken over from the Central (Unemployed) Body for London had been placed in charge of first-class offices at second-class salaries, notwithstanding the fact that they had considerable experience of the work, and that the newly appointed officials drawing first-class salaries had no actual experience?
§ Mr. BUXTONWith the consent of the Treasury it was arranged that officers of the Central (Unemployed) Body should be taken over by the Board of Trade, for employment in connection with Labour Exchanges, at their existing salaries. It has since been found possible to grade certain of these officers, and others will be put upon the scale of salaries in force for the general body of Labour Exchange officers as opportunity offers.
§ Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked (1) how many Labour Exchanges were registering juvenile applicants; and in how many cases had special advisory committees for juvenile employment been appointed; (2) whether the President of the Board would secure that local education authorities or their representatives should be given a paramount influence on any special advisory committee for juvenile employment established in connection with the Labour Exchanges; and (3) whether he was prepared to assist juvenile Labour Exchanges established by local education authorities, under the powers given to him by Section 1 (1) of the Labour Exchanges Act, 1909, to assist Labour Exchanges maintained by any other authorities or persons?
§ Mr. BUXTONAll the Exchanges are prepared to register juvenile or other applicants for employment. No advisory committees for juvenile employment have yet been definitely appointed, but a number of such committees are in process of formation by the Board of Trade as the result of negotiations with local education authorities and other bodies interested in the welfare of boys and girls. All these advisory committees will be constituted in accordance with the special rules framed by the Board of Trade with the concurrence of the Board of Education, and each will include an adequate number of members possessing educational knowledge and experience. In all cases the local education authorities will be fully consulted before such persons are chosen. Any application for assistance to a Labour Exchange under Section 1 338 (1) of the Labour Exchanges Act would be considered on its merits having regard to all the circumstances. It is obviously undesirable unduly to multiply agencies dealing with employers in the same district.