§ 17. Mr. ELLIS SMITHasked the Minister of Labour whether he will take steps to have overtime reduced in all sections of industry in which there are unemployed workpeople?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADMy right hon. Friend has no authority to issue instructions in this matter; but as will be seen from the White Paper shortly to be published, he has had interviews with representatives of various industries on the general question of absorbing more people into employment, and one of the points to which he particularly drew attention was the desirability of reducing overtime where this would have the effect of enabling more workpeople to be employed.
§ Mr. LOUIS SMITHIs the Minister aware that in many industries at the present time employers are reluctantly compelled to have overtime because of the lack of a sufficient number of skilled men, and is he aware that the trade unions could help a good deal in this matter by relaxing their restrictions in regard to trainees?
§ Lieut. - Colonel MUIRHEADThat affects a lot of people besides myself and does not arise out of the question I have answered.
§ Mr. BATEYIs the Minister aware that in the coal districts there is an abundance of idle men who could be employed?