§ 38. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that 50 men were sent to London from Porth (Rhondda Valley) Employment Exchange to obtain employment as cyclists to sell ice-cream on commission that many of the men were unsuitable and had to return home: and that if the men had refused to come to London their unemployment pay would have been stopped: and if he will discontinue the practice of applying outside before first ascertaining whether local unemployed are available?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI think someone has been supplying the hon. Member with inaccurate information. One lad was placed in employment of this description on conditions that were not unsatisfactory, but he came from Port Talbot. I can only trace two Porth cases and these were placed in labouring jobs. According to my information all these are still holding their jobs.
§ Mr. LANSBURYMay I ask whether there are no men unemployed in London who are suitable for these labouring jobs, and what object there is in bringing more men from South Wales and elsewhere into the labour market of London?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI have no doubt that these men were selected because they were considered more suitable.
§ Mr. LANSBURYMay I ask whether any effort was made, out of the tens of thousands of men in London who are on the register, to find men suitable for this work, and whether it is necessary to go down to South Wales instead of filling these jobs with men from the London labouring classes?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI cannot answer with regard to this particular case, but I have no doubt, all other things being equal, and men equally available on the spot, that they would have the first chance.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWill the hon. Gentleman kindly inquire into these particular cases. We who live in London challenge the assumption that there are no men who can do this work in London.
§ Mr. BETTERTONI will willingly make inquiries.
Lieut.-Colonel WATTS-MORGANIs it not the ease that men from South Wales, from the Rhondda Valley, have been sent up to London, have not found employment and are not able to get home again; and that a large number of young men have been struck off the register because of their refusal to come?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI am not aware of that fact.
§ Mr. T. KENNEDYIs this part of the national policy of the Transference Board, of transferring men from the mining districts, which is being recommended by the Ministry of Labour all over the country?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI hope the hon. Member will look at the Report of the Transference Board before he draws any such conclusion.
Lieut.-Colonel WATTS-MORGANWill the hon. Gentleman make inquiries into the statement I have made, that these young men are brought from South Wales to London, are then left stranded without any work, and are struck off the register?
§ Mr. BETTERTONIf the hon. and gallant Member will give me particulars of any such cases, I will inquire into them.