§ 24. Sir J. Mellorasked the Minister of Labour why his head office prohibited "The Builder" from publishing an advertisement for a senior architectural assistant, submitted by the Solihull Urban District Council and approved by his local office, upon recommendation by the Ministry of Health; and why his department permitted the same advertisement to be published elsewhere.
§ Mr. BevinI am advised that in general the Undertakings (Restriction on Engagement) Order applies to the surveyor's or engineer's department of a local authority, and that consequently advertisements for senior architectural assistants in such departments are as a rule illegal. The Solihull urban district council applied to the local office of my Department for permission to advertise the post referred to and permission was given, as I am advised, mistakenly, and I am informed by the council that advertisements did in fact appear in certain newspapers and journals. Upon 706 "The Builder" applying to the headquarters of my Department for permission to insert the advertisement which had also been submitted to that journal, the view was taken that its insertion would constitute a breach of para. 2 (1) (a) of the Order to which I have referred. I regret very much the inconvenience which has been caused in this matter.
§ Sir J. MellorWhile thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his apology, may I ask is it not the case that these Orders are so complicated, that even the officials of the Ministry of Labour cannot understand them?