§ 39. Mr. SAKLATVALAasked the Minister of Labour the total number of registered unemployed at the Clapham Junction Employment Exchange; how many persons of that total are miners transferred from the mining areas under the Government scheme; have any of the men so transferred been found employment; if so, how many; at what Occupations; and have any of them been offered or accepted employment at less than trade union wages and conditions?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe total number of wholly unemployed persons registered at the Clapham Junction Employment Exchange on 26th November was 3,221 men, 428 women, '78 boys, 56 girls. These numbers do not include any miners transferred under the Government scheme. Forty-two men and 20 boys from the depressed areas have been transferred to this Exchange area to definite employment in a wide range of occupations. It is not the practice of the Employment Exchanges to transfer men at less than the recognised rates.
§ Mr. SAKLATVALAWill the right hon. Gentleman look at the opinion expressed by the magistrate last Monday?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question cannot arise out of the answer which has been given.
§ Mr. SAKLATVALAI am submitting to the right hon. Gentleman that besides doing injury to the unemployed in the London area, he is increasing the task of the magistrates and the police.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise either out of the answer which the right hon. Gentleman gave or out of the original question.
§ 50. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the London County Council is not in favour of the transference of unemployed from other parts of the country, and that a special committee of the London County Council expressed the view that the total number of unemployed in London must be increased by the transfer of men to London from the depressed areas; and if he intends taking action in the matter?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI have made inquiries and have ascertained that it is not correct to say that the London County Council is not in favour of the transference scheme. The matter has not yet come before the Council. I should add that during the past five years the insured population of Greater London has increased by 10.2 per cent. mainly owing to the inflow of new workers, and the rate of unemployment has fallen from 9.8 per cent. in October, 1923, to 5.7 per cent. in October of this year.
§ Mr. HARRISIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the County Council considered this subject yesterday and that a report was presented showing that there was a serious shortage of houses in the London area and that there was not a sufficiency of houses to receive extra people from outside?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDPerhaps the hon. Member knows that there was a report from the General Purposes Committee, but the London County Council itself did not consider that point.
§ Mr. THORNEIs it not a fact that in hundreds of cases under the schemes of the Transference Board a number of employés have been dismissed and the transferred men are taken on and the dismissed men find themselves dependent upon the Employment Exchanges or the boards of guardians?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDNo, Sir.
§ Mr. THORNEI will give the right hon. Gentleman a few instances.