§ 2. Lieut.-Colonel Dowerasked the Minister of Labour if, in cases where under the Control of Engagement Order proposed in Cmd. 6568, an unemployed person hears through personal contact of a vacancy he will be allowed to request his local exchange that he may accept such engagement.
§ Mr. BevinYes, Sir. Whether such a request could be acceded to would depend on all the circumstances of the case. In this connection I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Tamworth (Sir J. Mellor) on 18th January, regarding the aim of His Majesty's Government in administering labour controls after the defeat of Germany.
§ Lieut.-Colonel DowerIs my right hon. Friend not aware that these men in the Forces fear that peace will bring them a form of State direction infinitely worse than that which they have been under for the last five years?
§ Mr. BevinAs a matter of fact, this matter has been explained to the Forces, and I am advised that the announcement that they are to be helped in this manner is immensely popular.
§ Lieut.-Colonel DowerIs the Minister aware that I met a large number of members of the Forces only last week, and that I found the overwhelming majority were in favour of being able to take the jobs which they wanted?