HC Deb 01 February 1945 vol 407 cc1596-7
1. Sir John Mellor

asked the Minister of Labour when his Ministry discontinued supplying lists of vacancies to trade unions employment bureaux; and for what reason.

The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Bevin)

As indicated in my reply to a Question asked by the hon. Member on 18th January arrangements exist for supplying certain trade union organisations with lists of vacancies notified to my Appointments Department. This arrangement has not been discontinued and I regret if my hon. Friend received a contrary impression as a result of my reply to a supplementary question asked by the hon. Member for Chislehurst (Sir W. Smithers).

Sir J. Mellor

In those circumstances will my right hon. Friend say why the same arrangement cannot be made for private employment agencies?

Mr. Bevin

There are only two professional organisations which the Appointments Department circulates and neither one of them is a fee paying agency.

Sir Waldron Smithers

I could not hear the right hon. Gentleman's reply very clearly, but in view of the fact that his reply to my supplementary question on 18th January was ambiguous, would he now take steps to make the position abundantly clear?

Mr. Bevin

I think my answer this morning does so.