§ 1. Mr. DAYasked the Minister of Labour whether his Department has collected any statistics showing the number of persons displaced by the introduction of improved machinery or mechanisation during the last 10 years; and whether he can supply any reliable figures?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead)No, Sir. It would not be possible to obtain any reliable figures owing to the difficulty of tracing the influence of improved machinery or mechanisation among the many varied factors which have determined the upward course of employment in this country in recent years?
§ Mr. DAYCan the hon. and gallant Member say whether his Department have followed up the statistics which have come to their notice as to the number of people who have been displaced?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADAs I have said, it is impossible to determine what influence the question of mechanisation has had.
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADNaturally, we take all the relevant facts which come to our notice.
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADCertainly not.