HC Deb 29 February 1940 vol 357 c2227
7. Sir H. Williams

asked the Minister of Labour the approximate cost to date, of the Central Register of his Department; and the number of persons who have signed that register who have been placed in employment?

Mr. E. Brown

From December, 1938, when the Central Register was started, to the end of this month, the cost of the staff for the branch of my Department which includes the Register has been £28,400. The branch dealing with the Central Register is also responsible for Regional Registers, the Central Register of Aliens and liaison with the University Joint Recruiting Board Register. It is not possible to separate the cost of each of these separate activities. Some 3,723 persons on the Register have been placed in employment and particulars of about 2,500 other persons have been submitted for current vacancies.

Sir H. Williams

Does my right hon. Friend think that, subject to the qualifications he has mentioned, the cost of £10 per person is higher or lower than what it would cost a private employment agency?

Mr. Brown

I should not agree with that setting at all. My hon. Friend misunderstands the whole purpose of the Register. It is not intended as an employment register per se, but it is intended to place at the disposal of the Government and of industry engaged on war work a pool of knowledge and exceptional ability in all directions. I believe that the country understands that that has been well done.

Sir H. Williams

As there are 90,000 people in the pool, why have only 3,000 fish been caught?

Mr. Brown

The answer is that of the 90,000 only 4,500 are unemployed persons, while the rest are in employment and have such exceptional gifts that the nation may be glad to have them.