§ 1. Miss WILKINSONasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the new Employment Exchange recently opened for Jarrow and Hebburn is already too small; that men are having to stand out in the rain without protection; and whether any arrangements can be made to remedy this state of affairs?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead)The new buildings at this exchange were not intended to accommodate the whole of the present register, and additional premises are being used. Apart from quite exceptional circumstances, there should be no necessity for claimants to wait outside the exchange, if they attend at the time previously given to them.
§ Miss WILKINSONWill the hon. and gallant Member send observers to see if it is not a fact that, with even half the men signing on, the queues pile up towards the end of the time, so that it is quite impossible to accommodate them?
§ Mr. LEVYCan my hon. and gallant Friend say whether this state of affairs is due to the recent election of the hon. Member for that constituency?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADAs I said in my answer, we are constantly getting information about this and similar matters from all over the country.
§ Captain Sir WILLIAM BRASSCan my hon. and gallant Friend say on how many days of the week they have to sign on?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI could not say in this particular instance without notice.
§ Miss WILKINSONIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that this is a completely new exchange and is already entirely out-of-date before it is well started?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADIt is of the usual type of exchange which is being built; there may be a particularly large amount of unemployment at the moment in this district, but that is quite different from being a regular matter.