HC Deb 23 March 1944 vol 398 cc1017-8
9. Mr. Erskine-Hill

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give any relief in the call up of, or direction to, vital war work of small shopkeepers, where the effect of calling up or direction will involve the closing down of a shop or business?

Mr. Bevin

At the present time when every available man and woman is required either for the Forces or for vital war work I cannot put any general stop on the calling up or direction to such work of the persons to whom my hon. and learned Friend refers. I have no evidence that the principles and procedure followed, which are well-known to hon. Members, are not adequate to deal with cases of exceptional hardship amongst small shopkeepers, but if my hon. and learned Friend has any particular case in mind where he feels that exceptional hardship has occurred I shall be glad to look into it.

Mr. Erskine-Hill

Is my night hon. Friend aware that there is a growing feeling in the country that the small man is being more and more handicapped, compared with some of the multiple concerns and the co-operative societies?

Mr. Keeling

Is not the statement the right hon. Gentleman has just made inconsistent with that made by the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry a few months ago that one-man businesses were not to be closed?

Mr. Bevin

With regard to the first question, I really cannot act on what is alleged to be general feeling. It crops up week by week, and if I were influenced by it, I should generally be wrong. If my hon. and learned Friend can snow to me that any action I am taking is treating this class of people unjustly, compared either with the co-operative societies or the other multiple concerns, no one will be more anxious than myself to look into it, because I am particularly careful to try to be fair between these classes. With regard to the second question, which suggested that I have differed from the Joint Parliamentary Secretary, I do not think the quotation of my hon. Friend is quite correct. In any case, there is never any inconsistency between the Joint Parliamentary Secretary and myself.

Mr. Erskine-Hill

I beg to give notice that owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I shall take an early opportunity to raise the matter again.