HC Deb 05 November 1946 vol 428 cc1199-201
34. Mr Heathcoat Amory

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to hasten the absorption, into those industries where serious manpower shortage exists, of the large numbers of Polish soldiers and airmen now in this country who have no work whatever to do.

Mr. Isaacs

Arrangements have been made for members of the Polish Forces who enrol in the Polish Resettlement Corps to be registered for employment at local offices immediately after joining the Corps: Those suitable for employment in British industry will be considered for suitable vacancies for which there is no suitable and willing British worker on the local office registers. Where it seems probable that appreciable numbers of Poles could be employed in a particular industry, the national representatives of employers and workers are being consulted on the arrangements for this. Consultations have been, or are shortly to be, initiated with a number of industries, and agreement has already been reached with some of them.

Mr. Amory

Does not the right hon. Gentleman feel that, in the case of men who were our comrades in war, this situation amounts to most ungenerous treatment, quite foreign to our traditions, and that it is a shocking waste of manpower?

Mr. Isaacs

I cannot agree that it is ungenerous treatment. We are making every effort to secure that these men are employed, but, until enrolment in the corps is completed, it is difficult to say how many men will be available. We are receiving cooperation from the industries in trying to place the men.

Earl Winterton

Could the Minister say what steps a private employer who wishes to hire labour for the purpose of land reclamation and forestry should take and with what part of the Polish Army he should be put into touch? Why should he have to go to the employment exchange?

Mr. Isaacs

The employment exchange is the appropriate place through which employment is arranged, and we feel that it is most suitable for the purpose as, otherwise, we might find there was a great deal of employment of Poles to the detriment of unemployed British people.

Mr. Wilfrid Roberts

Can the Minister say whether any of these men have been placed in employment?

Mr. Isaacs

Yes, Sir, but that is not the question I have been asked. However, I will get further information. The gas industry and the unions concerned with it have been most helpful in this matter.

Mr. Martin Lindsay

Can the Minister give any indication of how long he anticipates that this absorption will take?

Mr. Isaacs

Not the slightest.

Lieut.-Colonel Clifton-Brown

Can the Minister state what action he is taking to expedite enlistment in the Corps? At the present moment it takes at least half an hour to enlist each man as there are only six inspectors.

Mr. Isaacs

The question of enlistment is not under my direction.