§ 18. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Minister of Labour if he has yet considered the opening of an office in Glasgow for the purpose of dealing with affairs arising from the administration of the Trade Board Acts; and, if so, what action he intends taking?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI cannot add to the replies which my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary, gave to questions on this subject on 2nd May last.
§ Mr. BUCHANANhave already got the answer. I want to know if the right
§ coming into operation of the new Act, to the latest available date?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDAs the reply includes a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the statement:
§ hon. Gentleman is going to carry out the duties imposed upon him by Parliament. The Under-Secretary said that he was considering the point and I have asked the Minister of Labour if he has yet considered it.
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI have considered the point, and the answer is quite clear. It is that there is no sufficient case at present for establishing an office in Glasgow, or for transferring it from Edinburgh to Glasgow. If more money was available, I should prefer to spend it upon having more inspectors. If any information is wanted about Glasgow, it can be got by a reference to the Employment Exchange.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that Glasgow is the only large industrial centre in this country without a Trade Board office, and that all other large towns of a similar size have a Trade Board office? The Government have built an Employment Exchange in Glasgow, and it only means setting aside more room in that Exchange for this particular purpose.
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI have considered all those points.