HC Deb 22 December 1938 vol 342 cc3058-60
5. Sir Charles Cayzer

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any records showing the numbers of Irish unskilled manual workers who have been imported into this country from Southern Ireland for building, rearmament, air-raid precautions, or constructional work of all kinds; and whether any restrictions are placed upon their entry, in view of the large numbers of unemployed already in the country?

Mr. E. Brown

The figures relating to the number of persons from Eire entering insured employment in Great Britain, are collected on an industrial basis and do not distinguish between skilled and unskilled occupations. Since 1st July, 1937, the earliest date for which these figures are available, to 30th November, 1938, the number of such persons who obtained employment in the building and public works contracting industries was 11,560 and in the engineering, motor and metal industries, 1,552. I am unable to say what proportion of these workers have since returned to Eire. As regards the second part of the question, I would remind my hon. Friend that there is no power to restrict the entry of British subjects into the United Kingdom.

Mr. Rhys Davies

Is it not possible for the right hon. Gentleman to impose a condition upon contractors to the Government to employ persons who are unemployed on the very spot?

Mr. Brown

As the House knows, I have no power to do that. What is the custom? Vacancies are notified to the Exchange, and, subject to the fundamental principle of the Exchange work, which is to supply the best men for the jobs available, we always make the utmost effort to give the local men the preference.

Mr. Davies

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that contractors in this country actually advertise in Irish newspapers in Ireland for this labour when they could get the labour on the spot?

Mr. Brown

I have no power to prevent that.

Mr. Paling

Does the right hon. Gentleman see the contracts in order to make sure that they pay trade union rates of wages?

Mr. Brown

The hon. Member knows that the Ministry of Labour is always available to do its very best to help those responsible, both on the employers' side and on the trade union side, for collective agreements to maintain the standard of wages.

Mr. James Griffiths

Will the right hon. Gentleman take power to compel contractors for Government work to procure their labour from the Employment Exchanges on the Ministry of Labour scale?

Mr. Brown

I have no power to do that.

Mr. Griffiths

Will the right hon. Gentleman take power?

Mr. Brown

As the hon. Member knows, this is a debatable question which has been raised many times in the past 20 years, in the lifetime of all Govern- ments, and that from the contractors' point of view there are difficulties in doing it.

Back to