§ 7. Mr. Higgsasked the Minister of Labour if he intends to release a sufficient supply of labour forthwith in order that development work and post-war products can now proceed.
3. Viscountess Davidsonasked the Minister of Labour if he is prepared to take steps to release forthwith for other purposes those workpeople in munition factories who are relatively idle owing to changes in production programmes.
§ Mr. BevinI would refer my hon. Friends to the reply given to the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mr. Colegate) on 28th September, of which I am sending them copies.
8. Sit Robert Youngasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the probable redundancy of 4,000 workers in the Ministry of Aircraft Production factories during the next two months; whether any steps are being or will be taken to ensure that the employees concerned will be assured of full employment in the same or other factories; and can he say the nature of the work on which they will be employed.
§ Mr. BevinAbout 2,000 workers are expected to become available over the next three months from the factories to which I understand the Question refers. No difficulty is anticipated in placing these workers in alternative employment as they become available. I am not in a position to specify its precise nature.
§ Sir R. YoungWill my right hon. Friend do his best to see that in the transfer of these men, their home situation is taken into account?
§ Mr. BevinI have given instructions that where people have to be released, regard should be paid to those who have been directed away from home. If vacancies are available, they should return to their home districts.
§ 10. Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a growing number of workers are becoming redundant in war factories in South Wales and, with the return of discharged men from the Forces, the unemployed figures are rising; and what steps are being taken to provide employment for these people.
§ Mr. BevinOnly a small number of workpeople have become available in South Wales in recent months owing to changes in munitions production, and practically all of them have been reabsorbed in other work. There has, therefore, been no significant rise in unemployment.
§ Mr. EdwardsIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is very great apprehension in some of the valleys in South Wales about the pockets of unemployment which are growing? Is it not a fact that these are hidden in the statistics because they are kept in what is called an "available pool," and are not included in the general statistics? Will he keep this matter under close examination?
§ Mr. BevinI would ask my hon. Friends not to intensify the apprehension. The difficulty of transferring civilian workers is great enough, in all conscience. The Board of Trade, ourselves and the Supply Departments are working in close co-operation to minimise pockets of unemployment, but in any change-over some of these pockets are bound to be created.