§ 28. Mr. BARKERasked the Minister of Labour if he has received a resolution from the Abertillery Trades and Labour Council and a large meeting of Tillery miners, protesting against the action of his Department in importing men to do the work of the local Employment Exchange when there are thousands of unemployed men in Abertillery; is he aware that 15 men have been discharged from this Employment Exchange, thus further burdening the rates of this area; and will he reinstate these men in their employment?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDYes, Sir; the men in question were permanent officers of the Ministry. It was necessary, on account of the acute unemployment position, to strengthen the permanent staff at Abertillery, and as no permanent clerks were available in South Wales, men were transferred from Exchanges in other parts of the country. In regard to temporary staff, preference is invariably given to local applicants. Of 20 temporary clerks now in post, 19 are local men. Fifteen temporary clerks have been discharged during the past six months owing to a reduction in the volume of work at the Exchange. Further staff is not necessary at the moment, but if it should be required, preference will be given to local men who are ex-service men and who have had previous experience of Exchange work.
§ 35. Mr. CAMPBELLasked the Minister of Labour what progress, if any, has been made in carrying out the suggestions contained in the Report of the Estimates Committee, 1925, to transfer a number of 1406 Employment Exchanges to less obtrusive and less costly sites?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe practicability of providing alternative sites for certain Exchanges, now housed in main thoroughfares, is under examination between my Department and His Majesty's Office of Works. For reasons of economy, removal must depend on the terms of existing leases and the discovery of suitable alternative sites, and the problem can only be dealt with gradually as opportunities offer.
§ Mr. CAMPBELLIf the right hon. Gentleman cannot at once get rid of some of these Exchanges, perhaps he could let a portion of them after going into the local circumstances?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDQuite clearly, if it is possible to let a portion of them advantageously. I shall be very willing to do it by letting or any similar method which will effect economy, while at the same time the work is being properly carried out in the interests of the men.
§ Mr. HARRISAre not a number of the Exchanges in East London always overcrowded, inconvenient, and not large enough, and in order to have the work done properly is it not desirable to have central sites, where, conveniently, both employers and employés can go to?
Captain ARTHUR EVANSWhen the right hon. Gentleman is considering the plans of the new Employment Exchanges will He take into consideration the necessity of providing suitable waiting accommodation, and so doing away with the queues in cold weather?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDAll these points have already been considered and, so far as practicable, are being dealt with. Where there is a large crowd, they are quite carefully given the time at which they should go to the Exchange. There is, therefore, no need at all for queues. There may be an exceptional case, but in nearly every case there is no need for a queue if the people will observe the time regularly given to them. In regard to the question of the central site, it is desirable to get a position that is as get-at-able as possible and not far removed from the place. On the other hand, it is better to have the Exchange 1407 in a side street, though in a central situation, and not in the main thoroughfare. As to the. size, that, again, is a matter of commonsense. On the one hand, one wants to have such premises that people are not unduly cramped if there is a rush; on the other hand, one does not want to have premises so large that when unemployment in a given district goes down we are left with unduly big places on our hands. It is a matter of commonsense in each case. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that I shall do my best.