§ 44. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Minister of Labour in what trades the distressed miners who have been transferred to Devonport and Plymouth are now engaged; and whether all of those who have been transferred have been found work?
§ Mr. BETTERTONAs I stated in a written reply on the 19th March to the hon. Member, the work to which these men were transferred was generally of an unskilled nature, but the labour involved in ascertaining the precise occupation which each of them is now following would not be justified.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIs it the case that the Ministry of Labour do not know into what trades these miners have gone, or is it that they do not care?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI have already told the hon. Gentleman that the work to which they have gone refers generally to unskilled work.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHACan the hon. Gentleman give any indication whatever into which trades these miners have gone? Surely, he can give some rough idea?
Viscountess ASTORCannot the hon. Gentleman suggest to the hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha) that he will find this out if he asks in Devon-port, as I have done?
§ Mr. WOMERSLEYWill my hon. Friend consider the building of a wall round Devonport in order to keep out everybody?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWill the hon. Gentleman make some inquiry in view of the importance of this matter to the unemployed of Devonport, and let me know roughly where he has placed these men in order that we can see whether Devonport men are being kept out of jobs?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI am unable to give the hon. Gentleman any further information than that I have given in answer to the question.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHADo I understand that the Minister of Labour positively declines to give any information as to the work given to unemployed miners?
§ Mr. BETTERTONNo, Sir. I have already said that these men were transferred to work generally of an unskilled nature, and beyond that I am not able to say anything.
§ Mr. MACLEANIs it not the fact that, when Employment Exchanges were first originated, they were expected to keep statistics as to the movements of men from one trade to another? Will he now inform us whether he intends to take steps to fulfil the functions of the Employment Exchanges?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThis is really quite another point. The hon. Member is asking me to trace the jobs that these particular men—57 of them—have had from time to time during the last three or four months, and the labour involved, in the opinion of my right hon. Friend, would be quite unjustified.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHABefore these men were transferred from the mining areas, was inquiry made as to the jobs that were vacant in Devonport?
§ Mr. BETTERTONYes, Sir.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWhat jobs were vacant?
§ Mr. BETTERTONIt was ascertained that jobs were vacant.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThese questions ought to be put upon the Order Paper.