§ 53. Mr. BLACKasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the urgent need for houses, he will press the various building trade unions to permit unemployed ex-service men and other unemployed men to be employed in the various trades at the risk of the building employers?
§ Mr. SHAWI have been asked to reply. The subject of the augmentation of the number of building trade workers is under consideration in connection with the report recently prepared by the employers' and workers' organisations. In this connection, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and I will take into consideration any practicable method of absorbing men at present unemployed.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWill the right hon. Gentleman consult with his colleague as to the desirability of reviving the proposal to train fit ex-service men?
§ pations. The following table shows the percentage increases, between the end of 1913 and the present date, in the recognised hourly rates of wages of bricklayers, carpenters and joiners, painters, and builders' labourers in 10 towns, of varying importance, in different parts of the country:
§ Mr. SHAWI will consider with my right hon. Friend any practical proposal for increasing the workers in the building trade, in agreement with the employers' and workers' organisations.
§ Sir H. CROFTCan the right hon. Gentleman tell the House now how many men, since the Government have been in office, have actually been diluted, and what actual increase there is in the number of men?