HC Deb 19 March 1946 vol 420 cc1666-8
7. Mr. Drayson

asked the Minister of Labour up to which age and service groups are Servicemen previously employed in agriculture and the building industry and eligible for Class B release being offered such release.

Mr. Isaacs

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War on 12th March, to the hon Member for Hertford (Mr. Walker-Smith), as regards building trade operatives, and to my replies to the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) on 7th and 12th March, as regards agricultural workers.

Mr. Drayson

Is the Minister satisfied, in view of the urgent need for workers in these two industries, that the group numbers are high enough?

Mr. Isaacs

They are just as high as we happen to want them. If we do not get enough from a certain group we go higher until we get that number.

13. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Minister of Labour in which trades in the building industry Class B release is still being offered under the block release system.

Mr. Isaacs

Release in Class B is still being offered to men in the Army in the following main building occupations: bricklayer, slater and tiler, plasterer, roofing felt fitter, painter, plumber, concretor and scaffolder. Offers are being made to both craftsmen and their labourers in these occupations.

Major Guy Lloyd

Is the Minister aware that, when these individuals go back and rejoin their firms, if these firms are not employed by local authorities, they are out of work?

Mr. Isaacs

I can only address my answer to the Question on the Order Paper.

Mr. Bossom

Are not carpenters allowed to come out under this Class?

Mr. Isaacs

Yes, Sir, except that for the moment there is a superfluity of carpenters. [Hon. Members: "Oh."] Perhaps hon. Members will await the rest of my reply. We have on our books carpenters employed in several industries, who have expressed their willingness and readiness to go back to the building industry, when the different localities require them. At the moment we are concentrating on bringing out men where there is a real shortage.

19. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Minister of Labour up to which age-plus-service groups Class B release under the block release system has been offered in each of the trades in the building industry.

Mr. Isaacs

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War to the hon. Member for Hertford (Mr. Walker-Smith) on 12th March.

Mr. Davies

Will the Minister consult with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War in order to see that this information reaches the various units, so that the disappointment which exists among those not offered release under the block release system may be dissipated?

Mr. Isaacs

I cannot say that I know exactly what measures are taken by the other Ministry, but I will consult my right hon. Friend and see if it is possible to improve on what they are doing.

27. Dr. Little

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will expedite the demobilisation of those serving in His Majesty's forces, where release has been specially asked for, in the interests of food production and industry.

Mr. Isaacs

Releases from the Forces under the Class B scheme, which are designed to meet the point the hon. Member has in mind, are being made as quickly as possible.

Dr. Little

Will the Minister explain why, in the case of a man who has worked on the land before joining His Majesty's Forces and whose release has been asked for to enable him to return to agricultural work, a certificate is required from the Minister of Agriculture notwithstanding the fact that his former employer or another farmer has asked for his release as a necessity? I think that is very wrong.

Mr. Isaacs

The real difficulty is that many of these men are scattered so far across the face of the globe that it takes a long time to make contact with them and get them back.