§ 2. Mr. E. SMITHasked the Minister of Labour in what sections of industry there is a lack of supply of skilled labour; and whether he will give a list of the trades in which skilled workers cannot be found to meet the needs of industry?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADThe Department's information on this subject is mainly derived from the working of the employment exchanges and the difficulties which the exchanges may experience in filling particular vacancies. As the hon. Member will appreciate, the circumstances vary from case to case, but the principal 1926 difficulties at present experienced (apart from those due to seasonal causes) are with regard to vacancies in certain of the most highly skilled branches of the building and engineering industries. The difficulties in the building industry are mainly in respect of bricklayers and plasterers, and, to a smaller extent, of carpenters, joiners and masons; and in the engineering industry in respect of precision workers, including fitters, turners, tool makers, tool setters and machinists.
§ Mr. THORNEWill the Minister be good enough to advise employers, when they have any difficulty in finding skilled artisans, either bricklayers or engineers, to communicate with the chiefs of the different organisations, when they will get all the men they want?
§ Mr. LAWSONIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the unions of these two trades very gravely question whether there is any shortage of labour; and, as this is a disputed point, and one does not want to have too much controversy about it, is it not due to the House that the Ministry should take some steps with the employers and the trade unions to come to some common agreement as to whether there is really a shortage of labour in skilled trades or not?
§ Sir PATRICK HANNONIs my hon. and gallant Friend aware that in Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton at the present moment we are trying to secure 1,500 skilled workers, particularly in the machine tool trade and the motor trade? There is a big shortage.
§ Mr. E. SMITHWill the Minister bear in mind that one of the greatest difficulties in this matter is the serious position with regard to housing?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI am quite sure that any employer who is in need, certainly in urgent need, of skilled workmen will avail himself of every possible opportunity of getting those skilled workmen. The answer that I have given from the point of view of my Department is based on information that we have gained from our exchanges, which, I think, hon. Members will agree, have pretty wide sources of information.
§ Mr. THORNEIs the Minister aware that a large number of employers absolutely refuse to communicate with the secretaries of trade unions?
§ Sir P. HANNONNo.
§ Mr. THORNEYes, they do.