§ 50. Mr. Kenneth Lindsayasked the Prime Minister in view of the emergence of new unemployment areas, due to recent war events and Government policy, and the absence of any official organ to link future production with latent man-power and woman-power, whether, apart from the Government's training policy, he will set up some responsible body, properly staffed and equipped, to tackle this problem?
§ Mr. AttleeIt is the normal function of the Employment Exchange Service of the Ministry of Labour and National Service to link demands for labour in one part 599 of the country with surpluses in another, while the full and proper utilisation of capacity for production is the concern of the area boards in each region and of the Industrial Capacity Committee of the Production Council for the country as a whole. In the circumstances I see no need for any new body such as my hon. Friend suggests.
§ Mr. LindsayIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is no machinery to collect knowledge about the current labour supply and that that is why it is impossible to direct it into the main channels of production?
§ Mr. AttleeThe hon. Member is wrong. I have explained that there is machinery in the Ministry of Labour and National Service.
§ Mr. HicksIs my right hon. Friend satisfied with the degree of diminishing unemployment and with the machinery the Government have for examining this question with a view to reducing the number of unemployed?
§ Mr. AttleeThat is another question.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs my right hon. Friend aware that it is not more machinery we want, but a policy?
§ Mr. LoganIs my right hon. Friend aware that in Liverpool there are able-bodied men unemployed and getting relief?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is another question.
§ Mr. SpeakerHon. Members must ask fewer Supplementary Questions.
§ Mr. LoganAs a Member who has not asked a question to-day, have I not a right to ask a question about my own area?
§ Mr. SpeakerThere is a large number of Questions on the Paper.