§ 35. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Minister of Labour when he expects to be in a position to put into employment in the building of urgently needed houses the 50,000 ex-service men on whose behalf he has been engaged for over 18 months in futile negotiations with the building trades unions; whether he is aware that large numbers of these men could secure immediate employment in the building of houses on the London County Council's garden city scheme at Ilford, where the building trades unions have vetoed the erection of houses made of concrete blocks except by qualified union bricklayers; and what action he is taking in this matter in view of the urgency of the existing unemployment problem?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANegotiations for the employment of 50,000 ex-service men are now proceeding actively on the lines indicated by the Prime Minister in his speech in the Debate on the Address last Thursday, and I hope to be in a position shortly to state the arrangements which have been made. I may say that I have received this morning a letter from the National Federation of Building Trades Employers, indicating that at a meeting of their executive council yesterday it was unanimously resolved to confirm the report of their sub-committee on the 917 Government's proposal that 50,000 ex-service men should be taken in and trained, and heartily to recommend its endorsement by the whole Federation. A ballot vote on the matter will be immediately taken.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that for twelve months past, every week practically, I have had the same reply that negotiations are in active progress? For nineteen months these men have been out of employment, not only to their own detriment, but to the immense cost of the State. Does the right hon. Gentleman not think it time that some of them were put into immediate employment, especially as work is awaiting them at Ilford?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI think it high time, and the hon. Member knows it. We appealed to the unions and made certain offers, which were not accepted. We then appealed to the employers, and I have read the result. I think the reply is highly satisfactory.
§ Mr. N. MACLEANWill the right hon. Gentleman inform the House how many thousands are already unemployed in the building trade, and how many of those thousands are ex-service men?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIf my hon. Friend will look at the OFFICIAL REPORT of the Debate on the Address, he will find that on an Amendment regarding unemployment, moved by the right hon. Member for Platting (Mr. Clynes), I did my best to analyse those figures and to show why they are unemployed.
§ Mr. MACLEANMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman to reply to the second part of the supplementary question, which he did not analyse, namely, how many ex-service men in the building trade are unemployed now?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI cannot answer that question. It is, of course, true that the building trade, like every other trade, took back its own men who had joined the Colours, but it remains a fact that there is an opportunity for the employment of 50,000 ex-service men in the building trade, and as far as I am concerned they are going to take a hand in it.
§ Mr. SWANIs it not possible for their services to be absorbed by the guilds 918 and the Office of Works in the light of what this Department has already accomplished?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThat is another set of proposals. I think we have had enough discussion one way and another. I do not want to start any more discussion.
§ Mr. SWANCould the right hon. Gentleman not utilise material and men and get houses built better and cheaper?
§ Mr. LUNNDid the right hon. Gentleman expect to get any other answer than that he has received from any organised body of employers—employers who desire to destroy trade unions by every means in their power?