HC Deb 17 March 1932 vol 263 cc434-5
11. Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOX

asked the Minister of Labour if he can now state whether he will admit a percentage of local young unemployed men to the Slough training centre?

Sir H. BETTERTON

I am having inquiries made, as my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, and I will write to him in due course.

Sir A. KNOX

Will the Minister take into consideration the fact that unemployment in Slough is now worse than it has ever been, and also that the new factories which are being established employ women's labour chiefly, so that the men get no chance; that it is impossible for the local youths to sit quietly and watch the importation of people to be trained in jobs which they consider they have the right to have?

Sir H. BETTERTON

I assure my hon. and gallant Friend that those are the very points upon which I am making inquiries.

Mr. LAWSON

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if unemployment is worse in Slough than it is in, say, Durham?

Mr. NEIL MACLEAN

Is it the fact that permits are issued by the right hon. Gentleman's Department to foreigners in order that they may take jobs here?

Sir A. KNOX

Is not the unemployment due to the fact that so many trainees are coming from other places?