HC Deb 29 June 1939 vol 349 cc599-600
26. Mr. Lunn

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the fact that numbers of unemployed local men applied at the Harrogate Employment Exchange for work at the military camp there and were told there was no work for them because the contractors, had shipped over from Ireland a large number of men to do the work, who are difficult to organise into a trade union and are not paid trade union rate of wages; whether this is in accordance with the Fair Wages Clause of the Government; and what action does he propose to take?

Mr. E. Brown

I am having inquiries made and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Mr. Lunn

Would the right hon. Gentleman answer the latter part of my question and say whether the contractors who are doing Government work are paying trade union wages? I think that his Department ought to insist upon that.

Mr. Brown

The rates that I have had from rural districts and districts of that kind are rather the other way, and show that labourers are being brought from ordinary labour at excessive rates of wages.

Mr. T. Smith

In view of the dissatisfaction that exists in regard to the work on this camp, will the right hon. Gentleman have a thorough inquiry made, in order to see whether there is not more suitable local labour?

Mr. Brown

I have the matter under review. The fact is that the total number affected comprises 234 carpenters and joiners and 646 labourers, of whom 156 carpenters and joiners and 575 labourers were accepted from that exchange.

Mr. Smith

How does it come about that 20 men were engaged on this work for one day only?

Mr. Brown

The hon. Member did put a question to me about that matter and I explained it at the time.