HC Deb 06 July 1939 vol 349 cc1463-7
4. Mr. Mander

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now able to make a statement with regard to the position of men at Willenhall, Staffordshire, who have been refused employment on the ground that they are liable to be called up under the Military Training Act, particulars of which have been furnished to him?

Mr. E. Brown

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the cases of two young men submitted by the Employment Exchange to a firm who had notified vacancies for locksmiths. I made certain preliminary inquiries and have written to the firm to invite their observations.

Mr. Mander

Would the Minister regard with strong suspicion any action of this kind if it were taken by an employer?

Mr. Brown

I prefer not to answer a hypothetical question. The firm is in the hon. Member's constituency, and perhaps he also will get into touch with it.

Mr. Thorneycroft

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the Government themselves are actively discouraging the police authorities accepting applicants who are likely to be called up under the Act, and with that example before them how does he expect private employers to do otherwise?

Mr. Brown

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that question on the Order Paper.

Mr. Shinwell

Where a man who has been called up has been refused employment, what action do the Government propose to take?

Mr. Brown

We take the action laid down in the instructions I have drawn up with regard to evading the application of the Act. First of all it has to be established that the case is proved after both sides have been heard, not on an ex parte statement.

Mr. Wedgwood Benn

How long does it take to make these inquiries? I have had two cases before the right hon. Gentleman for a fortnight.

Mr. Brown

It is sometimes much more difficult to establish the truth than it is to make an ex parte statement.

Mr. Mander

If I put down a question in a week's time will the right hon. Gentleman be able to give me an answer?

Mr. Brown

I dare say I shall.

10. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Minister of Labour the estimated number of young men in the Borough of Leyton originally liable for Militia service and the number becoming liable each month; and whether he will give particulars respecting the number registered, their classification, the number rejected, the number already serving in His Majesty's forces and in the Territorial Army, the number of applications to hardship courts and the postponements and rejections, and the number of conscientious objectors?

Mr. Brown

I regret that these statistics are not available for the Borough of Leyton.

Mr. Sorensen

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman see his way to get statistics of this kind which are certainly required by many hon. Members, and would serve a very useful purpose?

Mr. Brown

The hon. Member will understand the great pressure on my Department in this matter. We have an important and difficult task to do, and although at the moment I cannot promise the information, I will look further at the various types for which numbers are asked, and, in the light of our experience, see on which particular type it is best for the House to have the information.

Mr. Sorensen

Do I understand that there is some possibility of this information being available sometime in the future?

Mr. Brown

It cannot be in terms of boroughs, because, as the hon. Member knows, we are doing this through exchange areas.

18. Mr. Day

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that many militiamen will be deprived of their holidays through their training period falling during the time they are entitled to them; and will he introduce legislation ensuring that employers do not deprive militiamen of their holidays, or that they are postponed until the Militia service is completed?

Mr. Brown

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for South Nottingham (Mr. Markham) on 5th June.

Mr. Day

Has the Minister no power to issue regulations covering this matter?

24. Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that some men who have recently become unemployed, passed A.I for the Militia, and due to be called up for service in a month or two, are finding it difficult to secure work through employment exchanges merely because their employment would be for a comparatively short period; and will he issue instructions to employment exchange managers so as to ensure that these men may not be thus penalised?

Mr. Brown

Arrangements have been made to meet as far as possible the position of men who are unemployed and therefore wish to be called up early, and the employment exchanges will in the meantime make every effort to put them in touch with employment.

Mr. Lipson

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are some unemployed men who have not yet received their medical examination, and will he take steps to expedite it, as it is impossible for them to get work until they have finished their training?

Mr. Brown

If my hon. Friend knows of any cases, I should be glad if he would let me or the local exchange know. Normally, we would call them up according to their age, the upper age group first.

Mr. Arthur Greenwood

Is it not the case that unemployed youths between 19 and 20 will find it increasingly difficult to obtain employment and that they will be debarred from receiving the advantages of reinstatement as there will be no job for them to be reinstated in after their military service, and will he consider this, as it seems to be increasingly clear that boys reaching the age of 19 are likely to be dismissed by employers?

Mr. Brown

We shall do everything we can to meet the facts that arise from the calling up as it develops.

Mr. Greenwood

Is it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman has no power to deal with this problem, apart from legislation?

28. Mr. Mander

asked the Minister of Labour whether militiamen called up under the Military Training Act will be permitted to bring before either the Military Training (Hardship) Committees or the Military Service (Special Allowances) Advisory Committee, loss and hardships they have suffered through having been dismissed from their employment by reason of the fact that they are liable to be so called up, or through being refused employment for the same reason?

Mr. Brown

The functions of the Military Training (Hardship) Committees are limited to determining applications for postponement of the liabilty to be called up for military training. Application for special monetary assistance may be made to the Military Service (Special Allowances) Advisory Committee by those who are unable, by reason of their being called up for training, to meet their financial obligations, whereby serious hardship is caused.

Mr. Mander

If one of the reasons why hardship was caused was dismissal because the man was liable to be called up under the Act, would an allowance be granted in that case?

Mr. Brown

Again, the hon. Member has put a hypothetical case. No such case has been sent to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.

Mr Mander

Would this be a proper case to put forward for consideration?

29. Mr. Dobbie

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that certain employers in the engineering industry are refusing to grant credit for holidays to young men in their employment for the six months period of Militia service; and what action he intends to take in the matter?

Mr. Brown

The circumstances in which holiday credits are allowed in the engineering industry are determined by a voluntary agreement made between the employers' federation and the trade unions concerned; and any question of adjusting the agreement to meet new circumstances is a matter for the parties concerned.

Mr. Dobbie

Where there is no agreement and where evidence is given of this practice, would the Minister be prepared to consider the position, from the standpoint of striking such firms off the list of Government contractors?

Mr. Brown

I would like to look into it. I have no power myself about that matter.

Mr. Dobbie

Would the Minister be prepared to consider it from a favourable angle on the lines I have indicated?