HC Deb 23 March 1937 vol 321 cc2743-5
44. Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Minister of Labour the annual rent paid to the Brinscall, Chorley, Conservative Club for the use of part of their premises for Employment Exchange purposes; the rent paid for accommodation in the chapel vestry recently vacated; and whether he will accept a certificate from an architect as evidence to show that the chapel vestry referred to does not suffer from dry rot as alleged?

Mr. E. Brown

The weekly rental for the premises now occupied is 35s., and that for the previous premises 25s. As regards the last part of the question, I

ernment has been asked to give facilities for an investigation to be made into any differences in their conditions or practice. The investigators will be Major Hudspeth, Deputy-Chief Inspector of Mines, and another officer of my Department, and they will leave for France as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made with the French Government.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Will the investigation include the effect upon accidents of reducing the hours of work?

Following are the figures:

have had a letter from an architect sent to me which states that there is no "dry rot" in the previous premises, but, whether this is so or not, I am advised that those premises are unfit for occupation as an Exchange.

Mr. Davies

In view of the fact that more money is paid for the same accommodation to the Tory club in Brinscall, and in view of the suspicion that surrounds this transaction, will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to go into the matter again and secure the alternative accommodation for this Exchange which is available in the district?

Mr. Brown

I do not accept any of those statements. As the House knows, the Office of Works gets for Government Departments the best available accommodation. I understand that the assembly room, which is attached to this club, and which is now used as an Exchange, is the only available suitable accommodation for the Exchange in this very small town.

Mr. Davies

Does the right hon. Gentleman seriously say that it is advisable to have an Employment Exchange connected with a Tory club at all?