HC Deb 03 June 1937 vol 324 cc1149-50
7. Mr. E. J. Williams

asked the Minister of Labour the sources of recruitment for the Bridgend munitions factory; and whether any instruction is issued which debars unemployed persons from Maesteg, Aberkenfig, Pontycymmer, and Ogmore Vale Employment Exchanges?

Mr. E. Brown

Preparatory work only is at present being carried out by local contractors to the Office of Works and by the Great Western Railway which employs about 100 men who, with the exception of five permanent employes of the railway company, were engaged from the register of the Employment Exchange at Bridgend. When the building contracts are in operation, vacancies notified to the Bridgend Employment Exchange will be brought to the notice of suitably qualified men locally, or, as necessary, in neighbouring areas, including those mentioned by the hon. Member.

61. Mr. E. J. Williams

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will stipulate in all contracts that, except for technicians, local labour must be engaged at the preparatory or constructional work at the Bridgend munitions factory?

The First Commissioner of Works (Sir Philip Sassoon)

No, Sir, it is not considered to be in the public interest to include such a condition in contracts. It is, however, the practice of my Department to press contractors to make the utmost use of the employment exchange service in the engagement of both skilled and unskilled labour.

Mr. Williams

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that in the Special Areas in particular, conditions of this kind ought to be inserted in every contract?

Sir P. Sassoon

In future notification to the exchanges of any vacancies will be made a contractual obligation.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

If it is to be incumbent upon contractors to obtain labour from the employment exchanges, will it also be incumbent upon the unemployed to take the employment that is offered?

Mr. J. Griffiths

Since the Minister of Labour, in announcing the Government's programme for the depressed areas to the House, mentioned this and other works, will not the programme be completely negated unless some clause of this sort is put in every contract?

Sir P. Sassoon

No, I do not think so.