§ 4. Mr. Robert Gibsonasked the Minister of Labour how many joiners and bricklayers, respectively, were employed at the Empire Exhibition on Friday, l0th May, 1938, or the last convenient date; what were the corresponding numbers on the corresponding date in April, 1938; how many of these have been absorbed into house-building and other industrial enterprises, respectively; how many workmen formerly engaged on the erection and completion of the Empire Exhibition are at present unemployed; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?
§ Mr. E. BrownAccording to my information, 73 joiners with 10 apprentices, and three bricklayers with two apprentices, were employed at the exhibition on 23rd May. Particulars of the numbers employed on 23rd April were stated in the answer given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland on 26th April. I regret that information is not available as to the number of these men, some of whom will 1365 have returned to other parts of the country, who have secured alternative employment or who are now unemployed; as regards the latter, if they register at their Employment Exchanges, they can be informed of any vacancies notified to the exchanges for which they are qualified.
§ Mr. GibsonMay we take it that most of the men employed on the erection of the Empire Exhibition have been absorbed?
§ Mr. BrownIf the hon. and learned Member will compare the figures, he will see that on the date to which my right hon. Friend referred there were 1,375 joiners, 27 apprentices and 42 bricklayers.
§ Mr. KirkwoodDoes the Minister make any provision when a great work like this finishes to see that the men displaced are found employment instead of their having to go in a haphazard way to the Employment Exchange?