HC Deb 08 July 1937 vol 326 cc543-5
24. Mr. Ammon

asked the Home Sectary what were the grounds for refusing the request of the London County Council for a public inquiry into the general conduct of employment agencies?

Sir S. Hoare

This suggestion was very carefully considered, and a deputation was received by my predecessor from the London County Council. Powers for the regulation of these agencies have been given to local authorities by a number of private Acts, and inquiry was made by the Home Office of all the local authorities concerned, but there was no evidence that complaints of abuses of the kind mentioned by the London County Council had arisen in towns outside London, and it was, therefore, considered that any public inquiry which might be thought desirable could properly be held by the Council, and that no case had been made out for a wider inquiry to be initiated by the Government.

Mr. Ammon

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it would have been more courteous if, in replying to a body like the London County Council, he had given the reason, rather than simply turn down the suggestion without any reason at all?

Sir S. Hoare

I think the London County Council have been told the reason for our decision, and if they have not been told I have given the reason to-day, and I think it is a very good one.

Mr. Day

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many applicants to these employment agencies are imposed upon in many ways, and will he not consider setting up a Departmental Committee?

Sir S. Hoare

We made inquiries, and they went to show that practically the only complaints which had been made were concerned with London. On that account we thought that if there was to be an inquiry, it should be one held by the London County Council.

Mr. Ammon

Is it not the case that so many complaints arise in London because of the larger number of cases there, particularly in regards to domestic servants?

Mr. Lawson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there have been complaints in great towns in the provinces, and that that is really where the trouble arises, because it is there they get the domestic servants for London?

Sir S. Hoare

No; we made inquiries and there have been practically no complaints from there.

Sir J. Lamb

Is it not the case that though there may not have been complaints, these cases are still arising in the provinces?