§ 83. Major LANE-FOXasked the Minister of Labour whether any, and, if so, how many, agricultural labourers in the northern counties of England are now receiving unemployment donation; and whether he is aware that the Labour Exchanges are quite unable to meet the requests for agricultural labour which are being made to them?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe number of agricultural labourers drawing out-of-work donation in the counties of Northumberland, Durham, Cumberland, and Westmorland, during the week ended the 16th April was 230. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative. Among the reasons which militate against the supply of agricultural labour are the shortage of skilled men or men whom the farmers will employ among the applicants for work, and the lack of housing accommodation, which tends to make labour difficult to move.
§ 86. Mr. D. GRAHAMasked the Minister of Labour whether he has received any complaints regarding the administration of out-of-work donation at the Coat bridge Employment Exchange; whether he is aware of a complaint that when men apply at the Exchange for payment they are treated in an insolent manner by the officials; that men are kept reporting each day for four or five weeks without receiving benefit, the excuse being that the officials are waiting the decision of the Court of Referees on some minor point; that on the 1st April a number of men were dismissed from the firm of Messrs. Stewart and Lloyd and reported at the Exchange the day after; that on the 7th April about twenty of the men were instructed by the Exchange to present themselves at another works where they would be found employment; that the men applied as instructed and they were informed by the foreman that he had no work to suit them as they were too old; that the men returned to the Exchange and reported their failure to obtain employment; and that when they applied on the following Friday for benefit they were informed that there was none for them until their case had been considered by the Court of Referees; and whether, in view of the fact that all the men concerned are married with families, are sober and industrious working men, and had worked for their previous firm all their previous working lives, he will make inquiries into the matter and secure better administration of the unemployment scheme at Coat bridge?
§ Sir R. HORNEI am making inquiries into the facts of this complaint and I will inform the hon. Member of the result in due course