§ 37. Major Owenasked the Minister of Labour whether, in order to minimise billeting difficulties, he will give instructions to local Employment Exchanges not 423 to consider applications for employment from outside their districts until the female labour in their own areas has first of all been exhausted?
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Assheton)This is already the practice of the Employment Exchanges.
§ Major OwenIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the opposite practice occurs and that on many occasions woman labour is drawn from areas from 10 to 20 miles away while there is labour available in the actual district?
§ Mr. AsshetonIf the hon. and gallant Gentleman would be good enough to send me any example of that, I should be very glad to have it.
§ Major OwenCertainly.
38. Mr. David Adamsasked the Minister of Labour whether it is his policy to build accommodation, where necessary, for workpeople who have been moved into new areas for armaments production; and whether he will duly consider the dangers to health which arise from the occupation of their overcrowded billets?
§ Mr. AsshetonIt is the policy of the Government to build accommodation where necessary for transferred war workers and a considerable programme of hostel and hutting construction is being pressed forward. In billeting transferred war workers every care is taken to avoid overcrowding, and in this connection any dangers to health which may arise locally are under constant review by the Ministry of Health.
Mr. AdamsIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in the North of England there is considerable disquiet and discontent at the amount of overcrowded accommodation? Cannot alternative accommodation be expedited?