32. Mr. T. WILSONasked the Prime Minister whether it is part of the policy of the Government that skilled workmen must 3ign a national service form before they are allowed to start work at an aircraft factory or munition works?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Bonar Law)The answer is in the negative. There is no National Service Regulation restricting the employment of men at an aircraft factory or munition works.
Mr. WILSONIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that in some districts they are compelling men to sign the National Service form under the circumstances indicated?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNot to my knowledge.
33. Mr. WILSONasked the Prime Minister if he is aware that skilled workmen who apply at Employment Exchanges for employment are told that they cannot be sent to situations unless they sign a National Service form; that owing to this many of these men are losing from three to six days' work before they are found situations; that this is causing dissatisfaction and discontent among the workmen; and whether, with the object of preventing the overlapping and confusion that exists, he will abolish the National Service Department?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThis question would appear to refer to the effect of the Restricted Occupations Order, under which no man can be taken into employment in any of the trades mentioned in the Order except with the consent of the Director-General of National Service or a local officer on his behalf. It was decided, however, that the Order should not apply in the case of National Service Volunteers since, having enrolled, a man is available for transfer to a work of greater national importance when required. To enter a restricted occupation it is, therefore, necessary either for the man to enrol, if he has not already done so, or for the employer to obtain a permit from a National Service Commissioner. If the man enrols no delay is involved, but otherwise it is necessary for him to wait until the employer has obtained the required permit. There is no similar restriction on the engagement of men in industries not included in the Restricted Occupations Order. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ 35. Mr. DENMANasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the facts that on 25th June Mr. W. Hill, of the Ministry of National Service, publicly stated that the National 897 Service scheme had failed, that in February a member of the War Cabinet stated that there were three and a-half million men employed in non-essential trades, that the proportion of those since transferred to essential trades is negligible, and that in the Government's present plan for securing labour for agriculture no portion of the male supply is to be drawn from sources which the Ministry of National Service was intended to tap; whether the Government now, as in last December, consider that without the mobilisation of our labour reserves we shall not be able to pull through; and whether, in view of the failure of the voluntary scheme of National Service, the Government will at once fulfil their pledge to introduce a compulsory scheme?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe attention of the Minister has not been drawn to the statement referred to. With regard to the last part of the question, I can add nothing to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for the Attercliffe Division on Thursday last.
§ Mr. PRINGLEDoes the Government contemplate doing nothing to redeem the promise made by the Prime Minister in his speech on the 19tlh of December?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI do not know precisely to what promise the hon. and learned Member refers.
§ Mr. PRINGLETo the promise that we are going to mobilise the industrial forces of our country?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIf we could not get what was necessary in any other way.
§ Mr. DENMANWill the right hon. Gentleman take an early opportunity of making a statement on this subject in order to check the growing impression that this Government is following the evil precedent of trifling with, if not shirking, the whole problem of man-power?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo. I have no intention of making a statement. We are quite willing to let the House and the public judge.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEHas it not been announced that the Department is able to supply all the demands made upon it, and that the offers are in excess of the demands?
Mr. WILSONIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that other Commis- 898 sioners besides Mr. Hill have made the statement that the National Service scheme is an absolute failure?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI was not aware of that statement.