§ 81. Mr. KELLYasked the Minister of Labour whether any representations have been made to the Department as to a shortage of juvenile labour; and if it is intended to employ adult labour to make up for any such shortage?
§ Mr. LAWSONNo representations have been mad to the Department as to any present general shortage of juvenile labour. My hon. Friend, no doubt, has already seen the Memorandum published last May on the Shortage, Surplus and Redistribution of Juvenile Labour during the years 1928 to 1933. I would remind him also that, as stated on Thursday last in reply to the Noble Lord the Member for Hastings, my right hon. Friend has decided to ask the two National Advisory Councils for Juvenile Employment to consider the question of the prospective supply of and demand for juvenile labour in different parts of the country.
§ Mr. KELLYAre the juvenile advisory committees and councils throughout the country also being asked their views upon the matter?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs it not a fact that there is already a huge surplus of juvenile labour?
§ Mr. LAWSONI cannot add anything to what the Minister said on that question, She has relegated consideration to the National Councils. As to the general supply of labour, the Ministry has no power to compel employers to take any particular kind of labour, but in so far as it is recruited through Labour Exchanges, of course, steps will be taken to supply either adult or juvenile labour.