§ 1. Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the serious difficulties which have arisen in securing personnel to distribute food, coal and milk, he will consider scheduling those industries as protected establishments?
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Bevin)No, Sir. I am satisfied that the admission to the Register of Protected Establishments of the industries mentioned would not be of material assistance to them in overcoming any difficulties which may have arisen in securing personnel.
§ Mr. DaviesIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the very desperate situation in some food shops which are unable to secure assistants? Is he aware also that one co-operative society in my constituency has advertised in six separate newspapers for assistants and cannot get any, and that in the end it is quite possible that the customers will have to serve themselves in some shops?
§ Mr. BevinOn the last point, I would say that they may get better weight if they serve themselves. But that question put to me is whether I will make these shops protected establishments. My answer is that that particular Order would not help them.
§ Mr. BurkeIs my right hon. Friend aware that it is not a question of short weight, but of long waits? There is need for the reservation of some men in provision shops, as some of the heavy weights to be lifted, such as sides of bacon, cannot be handled by women staffs.
§ Mr. Gordon MacdonaldIs my right hon. Friend satisfied that there is no discrimination between large establishments and small establishments, bearing in mind that a small establishment sometimes experiences difficulties which a large establishment does not?
§ Mr. BevinThere has been the closest collaboration between my Department and the distributive trades, and the instructions which have gone out provide for consultation. It is intended that the arrangements shall not deplete distributive personnel more than we can help.