§ 64. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEasked the Minister of Labour whether the rule that 75 per cent. of the men employed on schemes for the relief of unemployment shall be ex-service men is still enforced?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. R. S. Hudson)Yes, Sir. The rule is, and has been for a number of years, that 75 per cent. of the men engaged must be ex-service men, subject to the power of the Unemployment Grants Committee to sanction a lower percentage on the application of local authorities in approved cases.
Lieut.-Colonel MOOREWill the Parliamentary Secretary take steps to impress upon the contractors that these men should be taken, as far as possible, from the area in which the work is carried out?
§ Mr. HUDSONI have no doubt that that practice will be followed.
§ Mr. BUCHANANWill the Minister not reconsider this matter in view of the fact that the men whose fathers were killed in the War have been disallowed work on these schemes in big industrial centres, and cannot the whole question of 75 per cent. be reviewed?
§ Mr. HUDSONIn approved cases the percentage is reviewed and sanction is given to the local authorities to employ lower than 75 per cent.