§ 37. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Labour whether any encouragement, or otherwise, is given to agricultural workers to take employment in the subsidised sugar-beet factories?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI understand that in order to avoid dislocation of the farming industry, on which the 507 supply of beet depends, certain of the factories do not engage for their seasonal work agricultural labourers who are in permanent employment. Otherwise I am not aware that there is any encouragement or discouragement of the engagement of agricultural workers at these factories.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman has no influence at all with these employers who attempt to differentiate between two classes of workers in the country?
§ Mr. NOEL BUXTONIs it not the case that certain Exchanges have had orders not to refer men who apply to the sugar factories?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI have given no instruction of that kind to the Exchanges. I cannot dictate to employers who they should employ or who they should not employ, and if an employer puts a request in a particular form the local Exchanges endeavour to comply with it, if it is a proper request, and it seems to me, on the whole, a proper request to make that they should not take people away from permanent agricultural employment in order that they should be drafted into seasonal work in a factory. The case is a very difficult one.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYDoes the right hon. Gentleman not see that it is absolutely a new departure in modern practice that a Minister of the Crown should agree to this differentiation? It is against the whole principle of free labour.
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI am asked to supply a certain kind of labour if I have got it, and I do my best to supply it.