HC Deb 15 August 1940 vol 364 cc931-2
21. Mr. Malcolm MacMillan

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men with skilled engineering experience who have applied to be placed on the Central Register and the number who have applied at Employment Exchanges; and how many of these persons have been found employment in the last three months?

Mr. Bevin

I have no figures available to show the number of applications from engineers for enrolment on the Central Register. The number of engineers enrolled on the Central Register at 31st July was 46,077. To this number there will, it is estimated, be added some 42,000 engineers who are in process of being enrolled as a result of the recent Registration Order. I should add that the great majority of these 42,000 engineers are already in employment. The number transferred to new employment through the Central Register was 596 for the three months ended 31st July, 1940. It would not be in the national interest to publish the Employment Exchange figures.