HC Deb 11 November 1937 vol 328 cc1819-21
36. Mr. Lawson

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Alfred Marsh was sent to the Haldon training centre after an interview with officers of the Warwick Employment Exchange, in spite of the fact that he had undergone two operations for a serious internal complaint, was still receiving attention from his doctor, and had been declared unfit to enter a training centre though fit for light work where he could receive the regular medical attention he has had for some years; that pressure was brought to bear upon Marsh by a threat that his allowance might be stopped if he did not agree to enter the training centre; and that he was discharged from the centre by the doctor as unfit within a few days and had to be taken directly to hospital; and what steps he intends to take to make a repetition of such incidents impossible?

Mr. E. Brown

Mr. Marsh was interviewed at the Warwick Branch Employ-

below shows the number of men and women over i8, and boys and girls of 14 to 18 transferred by the Department from Northumberland county and county boroughs each year since 1932 to the end of September of this year:

ment Office by an officer of the Unemployment Assistance Board on 11th May in the presence of the branch manager. The advantages of training were put before him, but no pressure was brought to bear, and no threat was made of the stoppage of his allowance. Mr. Marsh voluntarily applied for training. The medical officer who examined him was aware of Mr. Marsh's hernia, and certified him as fit for admission to a residential centre for training in light manual labour. He was admitted to the Haldon Instructional Centre on 10th June. After arrival, he complained of stomach pains, and was examined on 12th June by the centre medical officer, who recommended discontinuance of training. He was accordingly discharged, and returned to Warwick on the same day, where he entered hospital. All possible precautions are taken to prevent the admission to centres of persons who are not fit for training. While I regret that the efforts to provide training in this case proved abortive, I am satisfied that the precautions taken are effective, as indeed is shown by the history of this case. The hon. Member will appreciate, I am sure, that if the admission of cases of this kind were prohibited in all circumstances the effect would be to withhold the benefits of the training scheme from a whole class of applicants, many of whom would derive advantage from it.

Mr. Lawson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware, that this Mr. Marsh says in a letter which I have in my possession that it was pointed out to him that if he did not accept training, it would affect his allowances, and will the right hon. Gentleman give his personal attention to further facts that I have in my possession in order that the training centres may not be brought into bad repute by cases of this kind?

Mr. Brown

I shall be glad to do that, but I make very careful inquiries in these cases, and I am informed that that was not the case. However, I shall be glad to investigate any case brought before me by the hon. Member.