§ 37. Mr. JOWETTasked the Minister of Munitions which are the firms where employment can now be secured by those anxious to take part in the production of munitions?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEArrangements have been made in co-operation with the trade unions to start Munition Work Bureaus in all the principal industrial centres of the country, where men skilled in the engineering, shipbuilding, and kindred trades may enrol as War Munition Volunteers on an undertaking to be transferred as required to work in controlled establishments on the production of munitions. Full details of this scheme will be given by advertisement and posters. Any workman who enrols will be informed at which controlled establishment he should take up duty. To avoid misconception, I 1158 should add that, so far as I am aware, the only acute shortage of labour at present is for skilled workmen in the engineering and shipbuilding trades. For such workmen there is so large and widespread a demand that it would be impossible to give a list of the firms requiring men.
Mr. TYSON WILSONCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether workmen who are skilled workmen and who register will receive the same treatment as the workmen under contract?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEAll those who enrol will get exactly the same conditions as those who are employed now.
§ Sir J. LONSDALEDoes that apply to trades in Ireland, Belfast, and Dublin, and throughout the country?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI would not like to answer that without making some inquiries.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEYes; the conditions have been agreed with the leaders of the unions, and they are stated in the arrangements made between the workmen and the Munitions Department.
§ Mr. SNOWDENDo the leaders of the trade unions with whom an agreement has been come to include the miners?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI referred in the reply to the engineering and shipbuilding trades.