§ 5. Mr. James Griffithsasked the Minister of Labour whether any arrangements have been made with the other Departments concerned to ensure that recruitment of labour for Government factories now beginning production shall be made through the Employment Exchanges, and whether preference is to be given to men who have been long unemployed; and what the position is in regard to this matter?
§ Mr. E. BrownIt is the established procedure for all vacancies arising at Government industrial establishments to be filled through the medium of the Employment Exchanges, and resort to outside recruitment is had only in exceptional cases. As regards the second part of the question, the exchanges have recently been reminded of the desirability and importance, in present circumstances, of losing no opportunity of placing applicants who have been out of work for a long time, wherever they appear to be suitable for the work required.
§ Mr. GriffithsAre all the vacancies to be filled through the Employment Exchanges, or is there any discretion left to the local authority?
§ Mr. BrownThis is recruitment of labour for factories, and the established procedure of Government Departments is that labour should be recruited through the Employment Exchanges.