§ 41 Mr. CLUSEasked the Minister of Labour (1) whether the number of the staff employed in Employment Exchanges is governed by the number of cases of unemployed persons dealt with; and, if so, what is the index figure upon which the number of staff is determined;
§ (2) whether he is aware that, while the number of unemployed persons, is increasing, the staff in Employment Exchanges is decreasing; and if, in view of the pressure under which these staffs are at present working, he will reconsider the question of the termina- 1516 tion of the services of those members of his staff in Employment Exchanges at present under notice?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI will answer these questions together. The volume of work at Exchanges fluctuates considerably, and it is therefore necessary to adjust the staff required for the performance of the work. The number of unemployed on each register is an important factor for this purpose, though it is not the only item taken into account. No attempt to make the number of the staff conform strictly to a mathematical formula would be practicable, and adjustment is made on the circumstances of each Exchange. As regards the suggestion that all notices of discharge should be withdrawn, it is clear that this would fail to take account of the actual requirements of particular Exchanges. I can assure the Member that these requirements are carefully watched.
§ Mr. MACKINDERIs it the difficulty of arranging the staff which causes the enormous queues of unemployed that we see every day on going to the station? Why cannot the people be taken inside?
§ Mr. BETTERTONNo. The Ministry has made every possible effort to prevent the necessity of forming queues, and on the whole the arrangement that has been made has worked reasonably well, in spite of the great increase in some districts.
§ 43. Mr. CLUSEasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that coincident with the discharge of efficient staff, in many cases with four or more years' service in Employment Exchanges, names are being called for from Employment Exchanges for staff to deal with the work consequent on the exchange of unemployment insurance books; and if there is any reason why efficient and experienced staff could not be retained for this purpose?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI am not aware that efficient temporary staff is being discharged at any Exchange where additional staff is required for the exchange of unemployment books.