§ 13. Mr. Tinkerasked the Minister of Labour whether he will try to arrange a meeting with employers to consider an all-round reduction of working hours per day, so as to prepare the way for the absorption of unemployed persons when the rearmament crisis passes?
§ Mr. E. BrownWhile thanking the hon. Member for his suggestion I do not think that any useful result would be obtained by such action at the present time.
§ Mr. TinkerIs the Minister not aware that all the schemes found by the Government so far have failed, and does he not realise that this is the only way of dealing with unemployment, and is it not time to consider it?
§ Mr. BrownI should not accept that statement by the hon. Member as being a correct presentation of the situation. As he knows this matter is being considered by the International Labour Office, because there are international circumstances to be considered in connection with a general reduction of hours.