HC Deb 05 July 1915 vol 73 cc13-6
18. Sir E. CORNWALL

asked the Minister of Munitions how many men have voluntarily come forward for enrolment as workers in the munitions factories, how many are needed, and how many of those who have applied are efficient; and how he proposes to maintain the supply to meet what will presumably be a growing demand?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

The total number of war munition volunteers enrolled up to and including Sunday, 4th July, is 67,650. Inasmuch as the instructions issued by the Department were to enrol only skilled men in employment in certain occupations, it is anticipated that the great bulk of the men enrolled will prove efficient, but a certain proportion of them could not be moved from their present occupations without detriment to the national interest. It is not possible to state exactly the total demand for labour for the munitions factories, as this varies from day to day. It is hoped that the demand may to a large extent be met by utilising the services of munitions volunteers, men released from the Army, workmen recruited for munition work in the United Kingdom and Canada through the Board of Trade and in other ways.

Mr. HOGGE

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure us that he is perfectly satisfied with this voluntary recruitment of munition workers?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I do not want to stop recruiting, so I hope my hon. Friend will postpone that question.

Mr. HOGGE

Did not the right hon. Gentleman himself say that the period of enrolment would be limited to seven days, and in view of that statement are we not entitled to know whether he is satisfied with the result?

Mr. SPEAKER

That does not arise directly out of the question.

Mr. W. THORNE

May I ask whether, in view of the satisfactory reply, there is any need for the Registration Bill?

19. Mr. HOGGE

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is able to state the result of the seven days' enrolment of munition workers?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I have already given the figures—67,650.

Mr. HOGGE

Can the right hon. Gentleman say now whether he is satisfied with the seven days' result?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member must give notice of that.

Mr. HOGGE

On a point of Order. My question asks for the result of the seven days' enrolment. The right hon. Gentleman stated that if at the end of seven days the results were not satisfactory other measures would be taken. I now ask him whether he is satisfied with the results, or whether we are to expect, further measures to be taken?

Mr. SPEAKER

If the hon. Gentleman wants to know whether further steps are to be taken he should give notice of that question. When he asks whether a Minister is satisfied, or what his feeling is with regard to what has occurred, that question is irregular.

20. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he can see his way to allow men coming from outlying districts to apply for employment as munition workers at any time between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., instead of, as is the case at any rate at an important centre in the South-West of England, between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I am afraid that it is not possible to arrange for the Munitions Work Bureaux to be open between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., but when the Bureaux are not open applications for enrolment as war munitions volunteers can be received at any Labour Exchange, and forms of enrolment can also be obtained from the branch officials of trade unions.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

Will the right hon. Gentleman kindly arrange with the offices that that information shall be posted on the doors?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I will see to that.

21. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that last week a number of skilled men applied to the accredited local official for munition purposes to be enrolled as munition workers and were informed that their names could not be taken as they were not in work, the men having just been discharged by a contractor doing Government work; that a man applied to the same official to be taken on as a munition worker but was informed that as he was employed on Government work his name could not be taken, and this notwithstanding that the applicant told the official that his work for the Government would finish on Saturday; and that the same man then asked whether, if he presents himself on Saturday, he could be employed, and was met with the reply, "No, because you will then be out of work"; whether the official rightly interpreted the views of the Government; and, if so, will he consider the amendment of the regulations in the best interests of the country and the efficient working of the Munitions of War Act?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

If the hon. Member will give me the name of the Bureau to which he refers, I will inquire into the case; but I would point out that the special allowances paid to the war munitions volunteers in consideration of their leaving good employement in order to transfer to Government work are not applicable either to the case of the man who is already engaged on Government work or to a man not in employment. Men not in employment can register at a Labour Exchange, when they will be drafted to any work for which they are suited, a preference being given to Government work.