HC Deb 22 March 1917 vol 91 cc2043-4
30. Mr. MacVEAGH

asked how many of the volunteers for National Service have already been placed in situations by the Department?

Mr. BECK

National Service volunteers are not placed in situations by the Department, but by the Employment Exchanges. They are, however, only supplied to firms and industries indicated by the Director-General. I am informed that in response to demands received the Exchanges have submitted some 3,000 volunteers. It is expected that the number will be considerably increased very shortly as employers become aware of this source of supply.

Mr. SNOWDEN

Are we to understand that situations have been found for 3,000 out of 140,000 who have volunteered?

Mr. HOGGE

Could the hon. Gentleman say whether the Labour Exchanges could not have found those 3,000 jobs?

Mr. BECK

I am afraid I must have notice of that.

Mr. PRINGLE

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many of those cases have been exchanges of employment, which has simply meant the payment of subsistence allowance for the people travelling from one place to another?

Mr. BECK

I regret that I have no personal knowledge.

Mr. MacVEAGH

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the 3,000 he has mentioned are the number of names they have sent forward to employers, or the number of employés for whom they have found situations?

Mr. BECK

Perhaps I had better read again the sentence in the reply "I am informed that in response to demands received, the Exchanges have submitted some 3,000 volunteers."

Mr. MacVEAGH

Can the hon. Gentleman tell me how many of the 3,000 have got employment?

Mr. BECK

I am afraid I must have notice of that.

Mr. MacVEAGH

It is on the Paper.