§ 12. Mr. R. C. Morrisonasked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken to utilise the services of able-bodied Belgian refugees, of both sexes, many of whom are living in idleness, and would welcome an opportunity of being usefully employed?
§ Mr. BevinI would refer to the reply given to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley (Mr. Joel) on 13th June.
§ Mr. MorrisonWill the right hon. Gentleman look into the distressing circumstances now existing in many public parks in London, where hundreds of able-bodied Belgians congregate under the trees, men and women, and are there all day long with nothing to do?
§ Mr. BevinI realise the great difficulty, but I would ask hon. Members to appreciate that, in dealing with refugees, many other considerations have to be taken into account, and that it is not an easy problem to solve.
§ Earl WintertonIs the Minister not aware that many of these men are highly-skilled workers with unimpeachable characters, and would be only too glad to take part in war work in this country?
§ Mr. BevinIf the right hon. Gentleman will send me from any organisations the names of men for whom the Home Office can vouch, and who are skilled men, I will see that they are placed immediately.
§ Mr. Craven-EllisHas the Minister's attention been drawn to an offer by a company in which I am personally interested to give employment to 250 skilled refugees? If they are here, why has not the Minister replied to that letter?
§ Mr. Craven-EllisThen I will draw the Minister's attention to it again.