§ 74. Mr. BARKERasked the Minister of Labour what arrangements he has made to deal with the cases of men in the Blaina and Abertillery areas whose unemployment benefit has been stopped owing to the effect of the circular, dated 12th February last, and who are unable to find employment?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland)A special effort was made recently to place some of the unemployed men in the Blaina area at new sinkings a short distance away. Nearly 100 men were interviewed by the Exchange, of whom nearly two-thirds were found to be unsuitable. Only five of the men were considered by the employers' representative to be suitable for the work, and only one of these accepted the offer of employment. I am, however, still in consultation with the Departments dealing with relief work for unemployed men, particularly with my hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport, but I am unable to make any more definite statement at the moment.