§ 2. Sir Herbert Williamsasked the Minister of Labour whether there is still a shortage of man-power for the nation's war effort; and why, during the month of June, it was necessary to pay £570,000 in unemployment benefit and £369,000 in unemployment allowances to persons, other than those in agriculture, whose qualification for benefit or allowances was their inability to obtain employment?
§ Mr. BevinThe Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The figures quoted by my hon. Friend are, in the aggregate, not much more than a third of the corresponding figures for June, 1940, and were further reduced in July last. They are due in part to the fact that industry is not yet so organised as to give completely continuous employment in all cases, and in part to the relatively small number of workers who, owing to domestic circumstances or other reasons, are unable to move to a district in which there is work available for them which they can do.
§ Sir H. WilliamsIn view of the last remark of the Minister, may I ask whether he will consider pressing upon the Service Departments the desirability of spreading out the war effort to a greater extent, if practicable?