§ 17. Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Thomas O'Reilly, a native of Ireland, who was brought to Slough in 1931 to undergo a course of instruction as a bricklayer at the Government training centre and has since been convicted of burglary; and whether he will take steps to protect the Slough district from the importation of men of this type?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI have no knowledge of this case. The class of men 522 admitted to these centres is in general of a good type and I do not think any further special precautions in this connection are either necessary or practical.
§ Sir A. KNOXDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that the obvious plan would be to give a percentage of the vacancies in this training centre to local unemployed youths?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI fully appreciate the point that my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind, but I must remind him that the primary object of this centre is to give a chance to men from the very depressed areas in the north and elsewhere.
§ Sir A. KNOXBut did not this man come from Ireland?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI say that I have no knowledge of the case at all, but, judging from his name, I should think that he probably did.