§ 39. Mr. MANDERasked the Prime Minister what action is contemplated, either by pension or transference to other work, to deal with the additional unemployment that must necessarily be created in the armament industries if the Disarmament Conference reaches a successful conclusion?
§ The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Mr. Baldwin)A reduction in the expenditure on armaments would, I am convinced, be of far-reaching benefit to the general field of industry, and while it may affect adversely certain specialised employments, it would only be one, and by no means the most important, among the factors leading to the re-distribution of labour in modern industry. In many cases it would scarcely be practicable to identify those whose unemployment is attributable to disarmament, even if it were justifiable to differentiate in the treatment to be given to them by the social services of the community.
§ Mr. MANDERWill the Government be prepared to consider any information brought to their attention in connection with this important and difficult matter?
§ Mr. BALDWINIn the event of the hon. Member's hypothesis being verified, I shall be delighted.