§ 2. Mr. Storeyasked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement upon the investigations his Department has made, together with the Ministry of Transport, into the ways and means of providing work for young men from the Special Areas under the Trunk Roads Act?
§ Mr. E. BrownMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport has decided, in consultation with me, that he will endeavour to secure that all workpeople employed by contractors (except a percentage for supervisory purposes) and any additional workpeople employed by local authorities on works of construction or improvement of trunk roads, undertaken after 1st April next, shall be engaged through the Employment Exchanges. In filling these vacancies, the Exchanges will take every proper opportunity to submit suitable men from the Special Areas and other areas of heavy unemployment, and will pay special attention to the claims of young men who have successfully completed a course at an instructional centre.
§ Mr. George GriffithsWill the Minister not forget the semi-depressed areas, where there are thousands of unemployed? I hope they will get employment in their own area.
3. Mr. Andersonasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, owing to the delayed decision respecting a trading estate for West Cumberland, potential new industries are being held up; and whether it has now been decided to establish a trading estate for West Cumberland Special Area?
§ Mr. BrownThis question is being considered as part of the general proposals to be embodied in the forthcoming legislation dealing with the Special Areas. In 1739 the circumstances I am not in a position to give a more definite reply at the moment.
Mr. AndersonIs it not a fact that the Commissioner for Special Areas indicated that the principle of trading estates had already been agreed upon, and is it not a further fact that some months ago I put a similar question and was given the answer that the matter was receiving consideration? When may we expect a definite reply?
§ Mr. BrownWhen it can be related to proposals in the Bill. We shall have this matter very much in mind.
16. Mr. W. Joseph Stewartasked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to state when the Special Areas Bill will be introduced?
§ Mr. BrownI have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Spennymoor (Mr. Batey) on Thursday last.
Mr. StewartCan the right hon. Gentleman give an approximate date when this Bill will be introduced? Many questions have been asked with regard to schemes of work for the Special Areas and we have been told time and again to wait for the introduction of the Bill. Can he give a date for the Bill?
| Table showing the number of men and women transferred under the Industrial Transference Scheme from Whitehaven, Cleator Moor, Egremont and Millom each month during the year 1936. | |||||||||
| Men | Women | ||||||||
| Month | Whitehaven. | Cleator Moor. | Egremont. | Millom. | Whitehaven. | Cleator Moor. | Egremont. | Millom. | |
| January | … | 15 | 7 | 3 | — | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| February | … | 39 | 9 | — | — | 12 | 10 | — | — |
| March | … | 32 | — | 3 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 1 | — |
| April | … | 20 | 3 | — | 4 | 21 | 23 | 2 | 1 |
| May | … | 34 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| June | … | 29 | 10 | — | 3 | 18 | 6 | — | — |
| July | … | 17 | 6 | — | — | 8 | 4 | — | — |
| August | … | 19 | 4 | — | 4 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| September | … | 56 | 8 | 2 | — | 4 | 2 | — | — |
| October | … | 36 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | — |
| November | … | 52 | 5 | — | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | — |
| December | … | 15 | 1 | — | — | 6 | 1 | — | 2 |
| Total | … | 364 | 67 | 11 | 20 | 110 | 76 | 8 | 9 |
§ Mr. LawsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that when this matter was last debated in the House Members on both sides were influenced by the statement which the right hon. Gentleman made to the effect that a Bill would be introduced before the end of January?
§ Mr. BrownThat was not the statement made. The statement made was that the Bill would be introduced soon after the House met in January.
§ Mr. LawsonIn view of the Minister's statement is it not possible for him to give some idea of the approximate date of the introduction of the Bill and what is the reason for the delay?