§ 24. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Minister of Labour if he will state, before permits are granted to aliens to take up clerical employment in Britain, what steps are taken to ascertain whether the work could be efficiently done by British subjects unemployed?
§ Mr. BETTERTONBefore a permit is issued the employer is required on the form of application to state the steps he has taken to find labour here. In some cases he is required to notify the vacancy to the Local Employment Exchange and in others to get in touch with the local Chamber of Commerce. Apart from young foreigners who are coming here in supernumerary capacities to gain experience, the great majority of the permits issued in respect of clerical employments are for aliens having a knowledge of foreign languages.
§ Mr. MORRISONSurely the hon. Member knows that when men of this character, to whom a knowledge of languages is essential, are wanted, it is perfectly useless to apply at an Employment Exchange? Is the employment department of the London Chamber of Commerce asked whether it has any suitable persons before aliens are imported?
§ Mr. BETTERTONAs I have said in my answer, in some cases they are required to notify the vacancy at an Employment Exchange, and in others to get in touch with the local chamber of commerce.
§ Mr. MORRISONBut can the hon. Member say whether the employment department of the London Chamber of Commerce is asked?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe London Chamber of Commerce or any other chamber of commerce is asked, because we are just as anxious as anybody else that aliens should not be admitted for this kind of work if there are men or women in this country who can do it equally well.
§ 25. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Minister of Labour if he will state, of the 4,229 aliens admitted for clerical occupations since 1924, how many permits were for the purpose of taking up work in the British branches of foreign companies and corporations?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI regret that the information required is not available.
§ Mr. MORRISONIs the hon. Member aware that there is a strong feeling that this is a very large number of aliens to come into this country to take clerical occupations? Since 1924, there have been 4,000. There is a strong feeling that there are plenty of ex-officers and other educated people in this country who could do the work, but that these aliens have been brought in to take the work at cheaper wages.
§ Mr. BETTERTONIf that be the impression, I hope the answer I have given will go far to dissipate it.