HC Deb 13 December 1911 vol 32 cc2366-7
Mr. WILLIAM PEEL

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the receipt of a letter by the London County Council from the south-eastern divisional officer of the Labour Exchanges of the Board of Trade, stating that, with the approval of the general manager, a scheme for the instruction of the officials in Labour Exchanges has been prepared, and asking the council to give such assistance as will enable this scheme to be put into operation; whether it is the practice of the Board to appoint unqualified and uneducated persons to posts on Labour Exchanges; and whether he will undertake in future to appoint persons who have undergone at least an elementary training in the duties which they are to discharge before their appointment and thus protect the ratepayers from unnecessary expenditure on education?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)

No official letter has been addressed by the Board of Trade to the London County Council on this subject, but I understand that various verbal and written communications have passed between individual officers of the county council and of the Labour Exchanges branch. As I understand from the newspapers that the London County Council, in their discretion, have refrained from sanctioning the scheme of classes jointly prepared for their consideration by these officers, the scheme, of course, falls to the ground. There is, of course, no justification -whatever for the insinuation contained in the last part of the hon. Member's question directed against the capable and devoted staff of the London Labour Exchanges.

Mr. PEEL

Would the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer the last part of the question whether he will undertake in future to appoint persons who have undergone at least an elementary training in the duties which they are to discharge before their appointment?

Mr. BUXTON

I have answered that part by saying there is no justification whatever for the insinuation contained in the last part of the question, namely, that they are not fit for their work. These classes are a matter that ought to be encouraged, I should think, rather than be discouraged.

Mr. PEEL

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these classes, of which I have seen the syllabus, deal with the most elementary matters about the writing of business letters and so on, and may I not insinuate that it is essential that those gentlemen ought to be instructed in such matters before taking salaries from the Government, and not be given this education at the expense of the ratepayers?

Mr. BUXTON

These officers were appointed because they were thought to be the most suitable for the work, and I think it may be an advantage from the point of view of the public that they should have an opportunity of improving their education.

Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

Will the right hon. Gentleman circulate a copy of the syllabus?

Mr. BUXTON

If the right hon. Gentleman wishes. I have not seen it.

Mr. PEEL

I will send the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade a copy.

Mr. SCANLAN

asked when the Labour Exchange in Sligo will be opened?

Mr. BUXTON

It is hoped that this Exchange will be opened about the middle of next month.