§ 42 Mr. SHORTasked the Minister of Labour (1) the dates upon which the Darlaston Employment Committee have met since its inception; what are the names of those invited to attend on each occasion;
(2) whether he is aware that certain representatives of labour, appointed over 12 months ago as members of the Darlaston Employment Committee, were not summoned to a meeting of the committee until February of this year; and, if so, will he explain why such representatives have not been officially recognised before;
(3) the names of the chairman, vice-chairman, secretary and members of the Darlaston Employment Committee and the organisations, including local authorities, they represent, and the date of their appointment, respectively?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe Darlaston Local Employment Committee met 23 times between its first appointment in December, 1917, and April, 1921. I am sending the hon. Member a list of the dates of meeting. All members of the committee for the time being were presumably invited to attend. For various reasons difficulty arose in completing the re-appointment of the committee which subsequently became due, and on this account the members of the reconstituted committee were not summoned to a meeting till February, 1923. During the interval I understand that adequate provision was made for carrying on the necessary work through sub-committees of the old committee. The names of the industrial members of the new committee were given in the reply of 14th March to the hon. Member. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the chairman and other mem 486 bers. All the appointments date from February, 1923.
§ Mr. SHORTBut is my hon. Friend aware that members of this Committee were appointed as far back as March, 1922, and have never been summoned to a meeting? How does the hon. Gentleman explain this lapse on the part of the Secretary of the Committee, and will he hold a special inquiry into the matter, as a good deal of ill-feeling has arisen owing to the action of the Secretary?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI think I ought to say this: this is a question that has involved a good deal of research, and it only appeared yesterday morning; I am awaiting further particulars. I shall be very glad to give an answer to the hon. Gentleman when the inquiry is complete. The answer I have given comprises the best information I have been able to get in the time available.
§ Following is list of members of the Committee:
- Chairman: Mr. C. W. B. Joynson, J.P., C.C.
- Vice-Chairman Mr. J. Barratt.
- Members of the Additional Panel:
- Captain D. J. Slater, D.F.C., representing the County Territorial Force Association.
- Mr. S. P. Barraclough, representing the British Legion.
- Councillor F. C. Wesson, representing the urban district council.
- Mr. Joseph Yardley, representing the Walsall Guardians.
§ The Secretary of the Committee is the Manager of the Exchange for the time being.