§ 11. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a Rus- 520 sian subject who can hardly speak English has been substituted at the Russion Oil Products depot at Hamworthy, East Dorsetshire, for a local man, who is now thrown out of work; whether he can state the number of permits to Russian subjects issued in connection with employment by the Russian Oil Products organisation; and whether he will consider preventing British subjects being thrown out of work in circumstances of this nature when they are fully qualified to fill the posts concerned?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am not aware of the circumstances referred to in the first part of the question. I will gladly have inquiry made if my hon. Friend can furnish me with particulars. In regard to the second part, the number of Soviet nationals now in employment with the Russian Oil Products, Limited, under permit from my Department is 39. I may add that the position is being kept constantly under review.
§ Mr. SMITHERSWill my right hon. Friend inquire into the employment of this whole organisation, and is it not a fact that the key men in this industry are appointed, not by knowledge of the oil industry, but solely as Soviet propagandists?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONAs I have already said, in answer to the original question, I can assure my hon. Friend that this matter is kept constantly under review, and the matter to which he refers is also under review.
§ Mr. LOGANWill the right hon. Gentleman make inquiry into Chinese, instead of English sailors, being placed in English ships?
§ 13. Vice-Admiral TAYLORasked the Minister of Labour how many German instructors there are at the B.C.N. radio factory, Waddon, Croydon; how many British subjects have been trained; and whether he is aware that some of the trainees have been dismissed and their places taken by Germans?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe hon. and gallant Member is perhaps referring to the radio factory of the British N.S.F. Company recently established at Waddon. Permits have been issued for a total of 23 German technicians for the purpose of instructing British workers. The per- 521 mits are for a period of six months. As the period of training started only a few weeks ago it is not possible yet to state how many British workers have been trained. In regard to the third part of the question I have no reason to suppose that the British persons in training have been replaced by German workers.