§ 54. Mr. KELLYasked the Minister of Labour whether he has received a com- 1453 munication from the Portsmouth Trades Council on the subject of finding employment for the 600 men discharged from the dockyard; and whether he proposes to take any special steps to absorb these men in industry?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Instructions have been issued to the appropriate local officers of my Department requesting them to take such action as is practicable to assist the men so discharged to find other suitable employment.
§ Mr. KELLYMay I ask the hon. Gentleman if those efforts have been successful to any extent up to the present time?
§ Mr. BETTERTONWhat has been done is to ask dockyard authorities for particulars of the cases of these men and we have notified other places where shipbuilding is carried on of the men available. With regard to the actual number of places, I cannot tell the hon. Gentleman, but if he will put down a question I will endeavour to give him the information.