§ 74. Mr. FISON (for Mr. LOUIS SMITH)asked the Minister of Labour whether her attention has been called to the dismissal by the Sheffield City Council of two joiners engaged for work on the Blackburn Meadows scheme of relief, on the ground that they were not members of a trade union; and whether, since the cost of the scheme is defrayed from a grant by the Unemployment Grants Committee, any condition was attached to prevent discrimination in favour of unionists as against non-unionists?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Lawson)In carrying out schemes aided by grants from the Unemployment Grants Committee, the Sheffield Corporation, in common with other local authorities, are at liberty to employ for supervisory purposes a number of permanent employés not exceeding 10 per cent. of the total number of men engaged on the work. The remainder of the labour must be engaged through the Employment Exchange, who are instructed to have regard to industrial suitability, length of unemployment, domestic circumstances and the fulfilment of the prescribed conditions as to ex-service men. The selection of the 10 per cent. of supervisory employés rests with the authority.