§ 7. Mr. A. Jenkinsasked the Minister of Labour the number of cases reported to him of young men liable to be called up under the Military Training Act who have been dismissed from their employment; the number he has caused to be investigated; and in how many cases he proposes to take further action?
§ 34. Mr. Stephenasked the Minister of Labour how many complaints he has received of militiamen losing their employment because of their liability for service under the Military Training Act; what is the nature of the evidence he requires before action is taken to prosecute employers who dismiss their employés, and particularly in deciding between the employers' assurance that the dismissal occurred owing to slackness of work and the complaint of the dismissed employé that his dismissal is due to his liability to service?
§ Mr. E. BrownOne hundred and sixty-two cases altogether have been reported to the Department, of which 46 were sent to me personally, or to the Parliamentary Secretary. Investigation is complete in 106 cases and is proceeding in the remainder. In none of the cases where the investigations are complete has any sufficient evidence been revealed to support the suggestion that a dismissal was due to the man's liability under the Military Training Act. The kind of evidence required must depend on the particular circumstances of the case.
§ Mr. BennIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many of these cases the man just gets a notice to leave? What evidence does the right hon. Gentleman ask for in these cases?
§ Mr. BrownI am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman. The procedure is this. The moment we get a complaint we find whether it can be classified into one of two classes, whether there is no prima facie evidence in the case itself, or whether there is prima facie evidence. In the case where there is no prima facie evidence, we give instructions locally to make inquiries, and, of course, we can, through our exchange machinery, soon come to the conclusion as to whether the employer has a good or bad reputation. Where there is a prima facie case we then proceed at once to ask the employer for his observations. May I add this: It is a very important matter. I have received a number of replies. There may be some legal trouble between the two sides—we have had it in recent cases—but if any hon. Member would like to see the reply in any case in which he is interested, I shall be pleased to show it to him.
§ Mr. JenkinsMay I ask whether or not the tribunal has been consulted in any of these cases?