HC Deb 23 March 1937 vol 321 cc2749-50
53. Mr. J. Griffiths

asked the Minister of Labour what is the approximate number of workmen that have been displaced by machinery in our principal industries in the last 10 years; and, if no statistics are available, whether he will institute an inquiry into the matter?

Mr. E. Brown

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Southwark, Central (Mr. Day) on 2nd April last, in which it was stated that no reliable figures could be obtained, owing to the difficulty of tracing the influence of mechanisation among the many factors which have determined the upward course of employment in this country in recent years.

Mr. Griffiths

Has the Advisory Committee any cognisance of this and any estimate of the numbers who have been displaced?

Mr. Brown

The hon. Member had better put that question on the Paper.

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