§ 22. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Minister of Labour whether any complaints have been received by his Department that, owing to the transference of miners from distressed areas, persons have been unable to secure employment in their own districts in consequence of the work having been given to the miners?
§ Mr. BETTERTONA number of such complaints have been received, but on investigation they have proved to be generally without foundation.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAHow can they be without foundation seeing that in a town like Plymouth, where there have been 5,000 or 6,000 unemployed for many years, if miners who are transferred there are to get work it is obvious that they are putting men out of work or preventing the unemployed from getting work?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe hon. Gentleman has put a very general question which involves a very general answer. If he has any specific point which he wishes to bring to my attention and he will put down a question with regard to it, I shall be glad to answer it.
Mr. BECKETTHas the hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the remarks of Mr. Clarke Hall, the London magistrate, the other day, when unemployed miners stranded in London were brought before him, as to the cruelty of bringing them here when there was so much unemployment here already?
§ Mr. BETTERTONNo, Sir. The remarks of the London magistrate have not been brought to my notice.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWe will send them to you.