HC Deb 27 November 1941 vol 376 cc866-7
18. Mr. Dobbie

asked the Minister of Labour, what is the policy of the Government in respect to the utilisation of the services of foreigners in this country, in civilian employment, in support of the war effort?

Mr. Assheton

The Government recognise that in the foreign population of this country we have a valuable addition to our man and woman-power, of which the most effective use should be made, with the same wage standards and working conditions and the same social services as those which apply to British subjects doing the same work. Certain security safeguards are indispensable, such as a special permit for some kinds of work: moreover, as in the case of British subjects, the employment which can be offered is not always of the kind to which the individual concerned has been accustomed. No genuinely friendly foreigner is debarred from getting a permit, and since the general measures of internment affected many who are entirely friendly to the Allied cause there is no ground for regarding a man with suspicion on account of internment from which he has been released. The International Labour Branch of the Ministry of Labour was set up for the purpose of finding employment for foreign workers, and there was recently a special registration of foreigners of several nationalities and special Employment Exchanges have been established for their assistance. The Government training schemes for munition work are open to them. I may mention also that duly qualified foreign doctors have been accepted for work for the duration of the war in hospitals and similar services. The result up to the present is that in addition to service in Armed Forces, many thousands of foreign men and women are making a most useful contribution to our war effort in many fields. It is remarkable how smoothly this process of absorption has taken place in spite of differences of language and custom, and my right hon. Friend looks forward to the continued co-operation of British employers and workpeople in the Government's effort to develop this contribution to the utmost possible extent.

Mr. Sorensen

May we take it that most of those foreigners are Austrians or Germans?

Mr. Assheton

I am afraid I have not the figures with me, but, of course, a large number of them are.

Mr. Hannah

Are we using any part of the Italian army which is at our disposal?

Mr. Assheton

That is another question.