§ 55. Mr. J. Griffithsasked the Minister of Labour the number of coal miners registered as totally unemployed in the Employment Exchanges in South Wales and Monmouthshire at the last convenient date; whether those Exchanges have received any applications for labour from colliery companies that they have not been able to supply; and, if so, what were the reasons?
§ Mr. E. BrownOn 24th May, 1937, the number of insured men aged 18 to 64 in the coal mining industry classification recorded as wholly unemployed in South Wales and Monmouthshire was 32,012. With regard to the latter part of the question, the Employment Exchanges have, in general, been able to meet employers' labour requirements from among the workpeople available locally or within daily travelling distance, or, in some cases, by arranging for the transfer of workpeople from other parts of the coalfield. Some difficulty has, however, been experienced in certain districts in supplying men in the lower paid wage groups because of the cost of lodgings or daily travelling.
§ Mr. GriffithsIn view of the fact that there are 32,000 unemployed miners in South Wales, will the right hon. Gentleman reassure the House and the country that the statement recently made that there need be no unemployed miners in South Wales is well wide of the facts?
§ Mr. GriffithsHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the statement made by the chairman of one of the most important colliery companies in South Wales to the effect that there need be no unemployed miners in South Wales now, yet the right hon. Gentleman informs the House and the country that there are 32,000 miners available for work on the the register of the employment exchanges?
§ Mr. BrownI have read a number of speeches on the subject, and I have been asked for the facts, and I have stated them.