HC Deb 03 June 1937 vol 324 cc1151-2
58. Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether he will take steps to insert provisions in agreements for work for the Defence Departments whereby private firms would be compelled to engage labour, especially unskilled, through employment exchanges, more particularly exchanges where unemployment is heavy, within reasonable distance of the job?

Lieut.-Colonel Sir A. Lambert Ward (Treasurer of the Household)

I have been asked to reply. While it is, of course, the desire of the Government that the fullest use of the employment exchanges should be made by Government contractors, my right hon. Friend is advised that there are considerable practical difficulties in the way of the precise suggestion for compulsory engagement of labour made by the hon. Gentleman. He will, however, be glad to learn that it has recently been decided to make into a contractual obligation the notification of vacancies to the exchanges which was previously appended to contracts only as a recommendation.

Mr. Rhys Davies

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman convey to his right hon. Friend the information that some of these Government contractors are actually advertising in Irish newspapers in Ireland for labour that they could get on the spot in this country?

Sir A. Lambert Ward

I will call my right hon. Friend's attention to that.

Mr. Kirby

Arising out of the original reply, what are the practical difficulties to which the hon. and gallant Gentleman referred?

Sir A. Lambert Ward

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that question on the Paper.