HC Deb 04 February 1947 vol 432 cc1548-50
8 Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

asked the Minister of Labour (1) the number of workers in all types and grades of industry which it was found necessary to stand off during the period 1st to 14th January owing to the shortage of industrial fuel;

  1. (2) the number of man-hours lost during the period 1st to 14th January owing to the shortage of industrial fuel;
  2. (3) an estimate of the number of people thrown out of employment between 1st and 14th January owing to the shortage of industrial coal.

Mr. Isaacs

I regret that statistics are not available as to the effects on employment of shortages of industrial fuel.

Sir T. Moore

What contact does the right hon. Gentleman maintain with the Minister of Fuel and Power to ensure that the dangerous policy of the latter is to some extent minimised?

Mr. Isaacs

That is quite another question.

Sir T. Moore

No, it is not. In my three Questions, I refer to the activities of the Minister of Fuel and Power in regard to his contacts with the Minister of Labour, and therefore the Minister of Labour is concerned with the results of the dangerous policies of the Minister of Fuel and Power.

26. Sir Patrick Hannon

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons, male and female, have become unemployed consequent upon the reduction of coal allocation to 50 per cent. of November, 1946, in engineering works in Birmingham and the Midlands; and if any plan is in process to improve coal supply to enable the urgent orders for export trade to be fulfilled in the next few months.

Mr. Isaacs

I regret that information is not available as to the volume of unemployment consequent on reductions in coal allocations. As regards the second part of the Question, I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power, that this matter is receiving his urgent attention.

Sir P. Hannon

This is becoming an extremely grave situation. What pressure is the right hon. Gentleman bringing to bear on his colleagues in the Cabinet to take some substantial action to prevent mass unemployment?

Mr. Isaacs

I can only assure the hon. Gentleman and the House that every possible attention is being given to this matter. It is not my duty, as Minister of Labour, to discredit the actions of another Minister.

Mr. Jennings

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that he should have figures of the unemployed, and that owing to the lack of coal in Sheffield people in the steel industry there are much interested in this matter? Is it not time that his Department was interested in it, too?

Mr. Isaacs

Records come to us from time to time, but unless we make a special investigation we have no information as to why a person comes on to the register. By the time of the last return, unemployment in those areas had not risen to any great extent, because most of the time lost was through men being away for an odd day a week. In those cases, they did not sign on at the exchange.

Mr. Butcher

If a worker registers at the employment exchange for unemployment benefit as a result of a fuel shortage, is he immediately transferred to other employment or given benefit until fuel is available to his factory?

Mr. Isaacs

It all depends. If there is employment available which he is capable of performing he goes to that work. If not, he is entitled to benefit. This acute position has arisen only during the last week or two. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Yes, firms have been shutting down for a short time only during the last week or two. As people sign on for benefit we shall ask them what caused their unemployment, so that we may get the information later.

Mr. Quintin Hogg

Will the Minister tell us when he expects to give the information to the House? Will he not undertake a special investigation, in view of the seriousness of the situation?

Mr. Isaacs

The special investigation was meant for those on part-time. We shall take into consideration those unemployed for a period, but it will take two or three weeks before the statistics, which are being collected, are complete.

27. Sir P. Hannon

asked the Minister of Labour the volume of unemployment in Sheffield in numbers of male and female workpeople for the week ended 1st February, consequent upon reduction of coal allocation; and the percentage of production compared with the output of November, 1946.

Mr. Isaacs

I regret that information is not available as to the volume of unemployment consequent on reductions in coal allocations, and I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply that he is not in a position to give the figures asked for in the last part of the Question.

Sir P. Hannon

May I ask the Minister why there has been a departure from the allocation of coal which was determined at the conference with the Minister of Fuel and Power last October?

Mr. Isaacs

I think that it would be better if the hon. Gentleman asked the Minister of Fuel and Power that question.

Mr. Jennings

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to ask leave to raise the matter on the Adjournment.