HC Deb 25 February 1929 vol 225 cc1560-1
50. Mr. T. WILLIAMS

asked the Minister of Labour how many workmen have been transferred to work upon the land as agricultural labourers since the Transference Board has been in existence?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Betterton)

A number of men from the depressed areas have had agricultural employment, and particularly in the beet sugar industry, but complete statistics as to the number who have been effectively transferred into agricultural employment are not available.

Mr. WILLIAMS

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether it would be possible to obtain the information sought in the question, and, if so, when ought a question to be put to him?

Mr. BETTERTON

The hon. Member will realise the difficulty that exists. A man may be transferred into agriculture, and he may quite easily have gone into some industrial occupation on his own account and therefore the difficulty arises as to which men have remained in agriculture and which men lave gone into other industries.

Mr. SKELTON

Is an effort being made to transfer to agricultural operations?

Mr. BETTERTON

I say in my answer that a number of men have been transferred from distressed areas to such employment.

41. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKE

asked the Minister of Labour the number of miners who have been transferred to the city of Birmingham under the transference scheme up to the end of January; the number of those placed in work; and the number placed in training?

Mr. BETTERTON

The number of men from depressed areas who have been transferred direct through Exchange machinery to employment in the Birmingham area, from the Prime Minister's appeal up to the 25th January, 1929, is 209. During the same period 378 men from depressed areas were admitted to the Birmingham Training Centre, and of those who have completed training 101 were placed in employment in the Birmingham area.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

Can the hon. Member say how many unemployed working people have been transferred from Birmingham during the same period?

Mr. BETTERTON

No Sir, not without notice.