HC Deb 24 July 1941 vol 373 cc1025-6
1. Mr. Mander

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of his appeals to the building trade on 16th June and 6th July, when making his announcement on nth June regarding building trades operatives, he has taken into account the normal channels through which building contractors usually obtain their materials; and to what extent his announcement covered this complementary side of the building trade?

The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Bevin)

The appeals to which my hon. Friend refers were addressed to the operatives in the building and civil engineering industries, and the Essential Work Order announced on nth June applies to those industries. It is obviously necessary that adequate supplies of materials should be maintained, and this aspect of the matter is not being overlooked by the Ministry of Works and Buildings and my Department.

Mr. Mander

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the distributors of building material have experienced great difficulty in getting the necessary labour, and can he give them some assurance that their needs will be met?

Mr. Bevin

I should like information about where they are short.

Mr. Gallacher

Why should labour and material be wasted on the statue in Trafalgar Square?