§ 39. Mr. HIGHAMasked the Prime Minister whether in view of the fact that the Employment Exchanges have only been able to secure employment for less than 25 per cent, of the men registered with them in June, July, and August of this year, the Government will consider the advisability of closing these Exchanges in order to save the expenditure on this means of finding work for the unemployed?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Sir-Montague Barlow)I have been asked to reply. As my hon. Friend was informed in reply to his question on 3rd November last, we are awaiting the Report of the Committee of Inquiry on Employment Exchanges, presided over by the right hon. Member for Gorbals (Mr. Barnes). The Committee's Report is likely to be 836 submitted at an early date, and meanwhile my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour is not prepared to take any action such as is suggested in the question. I should add that the proportion of applicants registered to those placed during a given period is only one of the factors to be taken into account in estimating the value of the Employment Exchange system. Of the vacancies notified to Exchanges in each of the three months in question, 68 per cent, were filled during June, 70 per cent. during July, and 74 per cent, during August.