§ 8. Mr. Vernon Bartlettasked the Minister of Labour whether there is any discrimination at Employment Exchanges against coloured people in Great Britain; whether he is aware of the difficulties experienced by many such workers in their attempts to be of service to the nation at this time of crisis; and what particular steps he is taking to ease these difficulties?
§ Mr. BevinNo, Sir; nor am I aware that any abnormal difficulties of the kind indicated have arisen. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind, perhaps he will let me know, so that I can consider whether there is any action which I could usefully take.
§ Mr. BartlettIs it not a fact that in quite a number of these firms there is this discrimination, and should not the Government do everything they can to discourage it, first to increase the labour potential of the country, and secondly to help to remove this discrimination which should not exist in a great democracy?
§ Mr. BevinThe best way to discourage it is for the hon. Member to let me have the facts and let me deal with any individual case, and then it would be an example to the rest.
§ Mr. BartlettIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the facts have been sent to his Department?