§ 42. Mr. MILLARasked the Minister of National Service if he can state the proportion of the 450,000 men of military age which he proposes to obtain from each of the various essential industries, respectively, including the coal-mining, engineering, and iron and steel industries under the provisions of the Military Service Bill; whether any arrangements have been, or are about to be, completed with the employers and trade organisations for the release of a certain proportion of the men engaged in each of the industries referred to; and what methods will be adopted to secure the number of men required from each separate industrial district?
§ Mr. BECKAs large a proportion of the men required will be drawn from nonessential industries as is possible.
The number of men to be withdrawn from the various essential industries is determined in consultation with the Government Departments responsible for the maintenance of those industries, and, as my hon. Friend is aware, not only is the Ministry of National Service in close and constant touch with the representatives of employers and employed on all questions of recruiting, but the other Government Departments concerned are also in a similar position.
It is not intended to withdraw all the men in one day, or one week, and as the withdrawals proceed, their effect on each industry is noted, and the rate of withdrawal is adjusted accordingly.
§ Mr. MILLARCan the hon Gentleman, say whether, before the Military Service Bill is passed, the Government will be in a position to state the proportion generally which it is proposed should he withdrawn from each of the various essential industries?
§ Mr. BECKI do not think that that is at all necessary. There is the closest cooperation between ourselves and these industries.
§ Mr. MILLARIs it not the case that figures have been suggested to the various trade unions concerned, and is the House of Commons not entitled to know what those proposals are?
§ Mr. BECKI do not quite know to what the hon. Gentleman refers, but it would be most undesirable to bind people down to figures.
§ Mr. MILLARPerhaps the hon. Gentleman will answer the point I put to him. I am asking what proportion of men it is intended to withdraw from these particular industries, and surely the House is entitled to know what essential industries are to be affected, and what are the proposals which have been made to the trade unions concerned?
§ Mr. BECKIt is really pressing an unnecessary point. It has been fully explained to the industries and to the trade unions that industries will be combed out, the output of which admits of their being combed out, and most elaborate arrangements have been made for informing the trade unions as to the actual men and their ages and occupations.
§ Mr. MILLARWill the hon. Member give the House the arrangements made with the trade unions?
§ Mr. PRINGLECannot the hon. Gentleman say whether estimates have been made as to the proportion affecting the various industries, whether these estimates have been actually given to the various trade unions themselves, and whether the House is not to be put in possession of the figures given to the trade unions?
§ Mr. BECKThat really shows how undesirable it is to raise so elaborate a 'question in this way. There is a Third Reading Debate, when these things can be adequately dealt with.
§ Mr. MILLARI beg to give notice that I shall raise this question on the Third Reading.
§ 44. Mr. MILLARasked the Minister of National Service what steps he has taken to give effect to the policy laid down by him at the Aldwych Club on the 14th November, 1917, that in recruiting the State must first of all draw from the internal luxury trades and trades which are 666 continuing to provide unnecessary and wasteful articles; and whether he proposes to utilise for the Army and for work of national importance the man-power at present still absorbed in the luxury and non-essential trades specifically referred to by him at the Aldwych Club and at Plymouth as great organisations which existed to encourage waste before withdrawing men from the essential war industries of the country
§ Mr. BECKThe policy of drawing men from the luxury trades is being steadily pursued, and since the speeches referred to in the question many thousands of men have been drawn from them for the Army. If the powers under Clause 2 of the Military Service Bill are obtained, many more will be recruited. Through the restriction of imports the supply of raw material to these trades is being cut down, and employés who in this way become surplus to the requirements of the industries are being found employment in work of national importance in large and steadily increasing numbers.
§ Mr. MILLARIs it intended to withdraw men of military age from nonessential trades before the essential trades are affected?
§ Mr. BECKI have told my hon. Friend, in answer to question No. 42, that as large a proportion of the men required will be withdrawn from non-essential industries as is possible.
§ Mr. KILEYCould the hon. Gentleman tell us what, if any, conclusion has been arrived at as to what is a non-essential trade?