HC Deb 14 February 1946 vol 419 cc526-7
55. Commander Douglas Marshall

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of men employed in the building industry in Cornwall on 1st January, 1946.

The Minister of Labour (Mr. Isaacs)

Building industry figures for Cornwall based on the annual exchange of U.I. books are only available each July. I am informed by my hon. Friend the Minister of Works that it is not possible at present to give employment figures for any later date.

Mr. Stokes

Might I ask my right hon. Friend if he is satisfied that unnecessary labour is not being used for the construction of an aerodrome in Cornwall that will not be used until the next war?

77. Captain Baird

asked the Minister of Labour if he has considered the letter sent to him by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, East, about the number of building trade workers employed by a certain factory in Wolverhampton; and will he release some of these workers for the municipal housing programme.

Mr. Isaacs

As soon as my inquiries are complete I will write to my hon. and gallant Friend.

Captain Baird

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he realises that, according to previous answers on this question, out of a total labour force in Wolverhampton of 2,000 men, only some 600 are employed in municipal building, and will he consider taking a census of the building industry in Wolverhampton with a view to finding out where the labour is going?

Mr. Isaacs

It is precisely because we are doing that that I ask the hon. and gallant Member to await the result of the inquiries.