HC Deb 23 March 1939 vol 345 cc1426-8
8. Sir Percy Hurd

asked the Minister of Labour whether, seeing that one of the reasons why many young unemployed refuse to enter Government instructional centres is the lack of assurance of after employment, he will consult with Government Departments which employ civilian labour, either direct or through contractors, with a view to precedence being given to suitable trainees rather than to those who are already in work?

Mr. E. Brown

As I have told the House recently, I fully sympathise with the object which my hon. Friend has in view, and I am considering the best means of securing that object.

Sir P. Hurd

Will my right hon. Friend specially direct the attention of the Air Ministry to this matter since in my constituency and elsewhere they are not carrying out this practice in any degree?

Mr. Hicks

Does not the Minister agree that in each of the main industries of the country they are training their own labour very efficiently, and that the opportunity for this kind of labour to be absorbed is more fictitious than real; and therefore, is it not illusory to imagine that these trainees are to be employed, when they are trained, in industries that are overfull?

Mr. Brown

There is some force in what the hon. Member says, but he will understand that the House and the country are concerned not merely with the normal running of industry, but with the question of seeking to find opportunities for the younger unemployed.

16. Mr. Sexton

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give particulars of the trouble which has arisen at Hamsterley training camp, County Durham, where many men have left owing to dissatisfaction with food?

17. Mr. Thorne

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any statement to make in connection with the 150 unemployed men at the training camp at Bedburn, County Durham, who left the camp on Monday last; whether he is aware that the reason why the men left the camp was due to insufficient and bad food and will he state the diet for each meal?

18. Mr. David Adams

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has looked into the allegations as to a shortage of food made by unemployed men at the Ministry of Labour training camp at Bedburn, County Durham, who on Mon day, 20th instant, left the camp as a protest?

Mr. Brown

I am having full inquiry made into the circumstances in which a number of men left the instructional centre at Hamsterley on 20th March. As regards the allegations that the food was not satisfactory, I can say at once that I am entirely satisfied that this was not so. In order that hon. Members may judge for themselves I will ask the House to listen to a description of the men's meals on the day on which the trouble arose. There had been previously no complaint about the food, and it is agreed by the men remaining at the centre that there never has been any reason to complain. The meals were:

Breakfast: Porridge and milk, bacon and egg, tea, bread, margarine, marmalade.

Dinner: Roast beef, potatoes, cabbage, Yorkshire pudding, figs and custard, bread and tea.

Tea: Salmon and vinegar, tea, bread and margarine, jam and cake.

The supper meal was composed of: oranges, bread, margarine, jam, tea and cocoa.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

What is the charge for admission?

Mr. Sexton

Has any complaint been made about the service of these meals, and has any alteration been made in the arrangements for the service of the meals? I was present and saw the degrading conditions under which these men had to sit down to their meals.

Mr. Brown

The hon. Member spoke to me about this matter a day or so ago, and, as I say, I am having full inquiry made.

Mrs. Hardie

Can the Minister tell us anything about the quality of the food?

Mr. Brown

Yes, it is very good indeed.

Mr. David Adams

Is the Minister aware that the complaint is not as to the quality, but as to the quantity of the food supplied?

Mr. Brown

I repeat that I am having inquiries made in order to make sure, but I have visited this centre more than once, and I am glad, therefore, to advertise the full merits of the menu.

Mr. Magnay

May I ask, for the purpose of enlightening not only the House but the country, whether this is not precisely the same menu as that which certain high personages inspected the other day and said was excellent?

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