§ 20. Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the growing resentment against the continued immigration of southern Irish labourers into this country while unemployment among our own workers steadily increases; and whether he will consider safeguarding the interests of Scottish, English and Welsh workers against this type of competition?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe information in the possession of my Department indicates that the number of migrants from Eire entering insured employment in this country showed a decrease last year as compared with 1937. As the hon. Member is aware, there is no power to restrict the entry of British subjects into the United Kingdom but in the case of vacancies notified to the Employment Exchanges, first consideration is given to local applicants and afterwards, as far as practicable, to suitably qualified persons from areas of heavy unemployment in this country,
Mr. StewartWill not my right hon. Friend consider making regulations so as to provide that at least in public works first place shall be given to our own unemployed men?
§ Mr. BrownMy hon. Friend will understand that to do so would be to alter the whole basis of the relation of the contractor to the job, and might have very serious economic effects on the one hand and financial effects on the other.
§ Mr. PalingWould it not be better to make regulations stopping those people from working under trade union rates of wages, and if that were done would not the problem solve itself?