HC Deb 30 May 1946 vol 423 cc1347-8
62. Mr. Keeling

asked the Minister of Labour whether any assurance has been received from the trades unions that they will raise no objection to Polish ex-Servicemen who settle in this country being employed as miners and in other skilled trades.

Mr. Isaacs

The Government have the support of both sides of industry in their scheme for the settlement of members of the Polish forces and a sub-committee of the joint consultative committee of representatives of the Trades Union Congress and the British Employers' Confederation is to be appointed to help in working out the details of the scheme.

Mr. Keeling

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any difficulty has arisen on the part of the Mine Workers' Union, as has been suggested in the Press?

Mr. Isaacs

I should have hoped that the statement that I made that there was cooperation on both sides of the central organisation of this industry, would have been satisfactory for the time being.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

Are we not short of labour and would not the Poles be very acceptable labour in this country?

Mr. Isaacs

That is a question the joint committee has been established not to stop but to help.