§ 92 and 93. Mr. Daggarasked the Minister of Labour (1) whether employment on the Government scheme at Usk, Monmouthshire, is confined to unemployed men resident in any particular area;
(2) whether he is aware that unemployed men in the Abertillery district have been refused employment on the Government schemes now in progress at Usk, Monmouthshire, and that others have been unable to obtain their green cards from the Employment Exchange after receiving a promise of employment on these schemes; and whether, in view of no factories having been established in the Abertillery area, he will take steps to guarantee a share of the work undertaken by the Government at Usk for the unemployed resident in the district of Abertillery?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Lennox-Boyd)Up to the present the engagement of un skilled labour for these schemes has been confined to men registered at local offices of this Ministry within 10 miles of the site. As the demand increases an ex tension of this area may be necessary, and if so, the Abertillery office will be included. I understand that a number of men from Abertillery applied personally on the site, but in accordance with the arrangements I have mentioned they could not be engaged.
§ Mr. DaggarIs the hon. Member aware that the percentage of unemployment in Abertillery is considerably higher than in any one of the Exchange areas from which men are engaged upon these work schemes?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWithout accepting that statement, I am aware that the present procedure, which is necessary if we are to place people from the Exchanges—I think the hon. Member agrees as to the desirability of that—is bound to lead to certain disappointment in some areas.