HC Deb 20 November 1930 vol 245 cc589-91
26. Major COLVILLE

asked the Minister of Labour the number of per- sons registered as unemployed in. Scot land on 1st June, 1929, and at the latest available date?

Miss BONDFIELD

At 10th November, 1930, there were 290,897 persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Scotland as compared with 144,243 at 3rd June, 1929.

27. Major COLVILLE

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men directly employed on unemployment relief schemes in Scotland at the latest available date?

Miss BONDFIELD

The number of men directly employed in Scotland on 26th September on schemes assisted by the Unemployment Grants Committee, Ministry of Transport and Department of Agriculture for Scotland was 9,502.

Major COLVILLE

Does that answer indicate that the Government's relict schemes have only been capable of absorbing a very small proportion of the increased number of unemployed in Scotland?

29. Mr. TRAIN

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the complaints made by employers in Glasgow regarding their difficulty in engaging workers through the Employment Exchanges, whether she intends to take any steps to assist employers to get labour through the Exchanges?

Miss BONDFIELD

I am not aware that employers in Glasgow have had any difficulty in obtaining labour through the Employment Exchanges except in the case of certain classes of skilled work-people of whom there is a known shortage. I should be glad to have any particulars which the hon. Member can give me.

Mr. TRAIN

Will the right hon. Lady look into a case, if I supply her with the name of a firm at Maryhill, Glasgow, who have been advertising and who put a letter in the "Glasgow Herald" on 11th November, but who cannot get labour, although they are appealing for unskilled labour—

HON. MEMBERS

Speech!

Mr. BUCHANAN

Is the right hon. Lady aware that the complaint in Glasgow is on the part of the workers, that they cannot get, jobs, either from the employers or the Employment. Exchanges?

Miss BONDFIELD

I shall most certainly go into the case mentioned by the hon. Member for Cathcart (Mr. Train), and I shall be glad to have particulars of it.

Mr. BUCHANAN

The "Glasgow Herald" letter was unsigned—no name attached. It was anonymous, like all these other complaints. They had not the courage to sign it.

HON. MEMBERS

Order!

Mr. BUCHANAN

On a point of Order. Is an hon. Member entitled to quote from an anonymous letter which is a slander against working-class people in the City of Glasgow?

Sir F. HALL

On a point of Order. Have you not called my question, Sir?

Mr. BUCHANAN

Is it all right to slander workers with an anonymous document?

Mr. SPEAKER

If the question is put in that way, the hon. Member who puts it is responsible.