§ 76. Sir A. WILSONasked the Minister of Labour how many permits he has issued for the years 1932, 1933, and 1934 to date for male and female alien domestic servants, respectively; and whether he is satisfied that the same test of urgent need and non-availability of British servants is applied as in the case of skilled technical workers, and that in no case are lower wages paid to, or longer hours worked by, imported servants than those current in this country?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. R. S. Hudson)The numbers of permits issued during the past three years in respect of private domestic service are: in 1932, 2,897 females and 26 males; in 1933, 2,777 females and 37 males; in 1934, up to the end of November, 3,296 females and 31 males. It is a necessary condition for the issue of these permits that the employer should be able to satisfy my Department that British domestics are not available for the purpose, and that the wages and general conditions of employment are in accordance with current practice in this country.
§ Mr. HUDSONThe figures for 1931 were 6,172.
§ 77. Sir A. WILSONasked the Minister of Labour how many permits he has issued for the years 1932, 1933, and 1934 to date for alien male and female hotel servants; and whether he is satisfied that 396 the same test of urgent need and non-availability of British hotel servants is applied as in the case of skilled technical workers, and that in no case are lower wages paid or longer hours worked by imported hotel servants than those current in this country?
§ Mr. HUDSONThe numbers of permits issued during the past three years for foreign employés for hotels and restaurants are: In 1932, 341; in 1933, 414; and in 1934 (up to the end of November), 462. These permits relate to male employés only; permits are not issued for female employés for this purpose. The great majority of these permits are in respect of student employés whose admission is governed by arrangements with foreign countries which grant corresponding facilities for British students to go abroad. These permits are for a period of 12 months only; the question of the availability of British workers for the purpose is not in the circumstances applicable. In the remaining cases where the foreigner is required for definite employment, the employer is required to satisfy my Department that British labour is not available for the purpose, and that the wages and general conditions of the employment are in accordance with current British practice.
§ Sir ALFRED BEITSeeing that in the case of Italy there is a majority of restaurant waiters have we any reciprocal arrangements with Italy?
§ Mr. HUDSONNot that I am aware of.