3. Major Millsasked the Minister of Labour from which trades unions he has received assurances of their readiness to co-operate in facilitating the employment of the refugees from Germany and Central Europe who have been admitted to this country, and who are now to be permitted to seek work?
§ Mr. E. BrownI believe that trade unions generally are favourably disposed to the employment in suitable circumstances of friendly refugees in this country, but I have made no attempt to ascertain the views of individual unions. As my right hon. Friend stated in his reply on 19th October to a question by the hon. Member for Cumberland, North (Mr. W. Roberts), permission to take employment will only be given if no suitable British workers are available, and I may add that the views of any organisations concerned will be taken fully into account.