§ 20. Mr. Ivor Thomasasked the Minister of Labour whether the urgent reconstruction employments, mentioned in Cmd. 6548, paragraph 11, include civil engineering.
§ Mr. BevinAs stated on page 4 of the White Paper Cmd. 6548, the numbers that will be released under Class B will be small, and will be mainly required to supplement the labour force available for building houses against the time when sailors, soldiers, and airmen will be returning in large numbers to civil life. I do not anticipate that this will cover men engaged in civil engineering, except so far as it may be directly required for housing developments.
§ Mr. E. WalkdenIs there not an urgent need already in London for engineering assistants of the type described in the Question to direct repairs to damaged houses?
§ Mr. BevinThat is not in the Question. The Question asks whether I will release people for civil engineering.
§ Mr. E. WalkdenDoes not the urgency exist already?