HC Deb 04 November 1947 vol 443 c1525
44. Mr. Walter Fletcher

asked the Minister of Labour what priority for obtaining staff will be given to those firms and companies engaged in invisible export, and if this form of hard-currency earning activity without drawing on the manual labour pool will again be encouraged.

The Minister of Labour (Mr. George Isaacs)

The activities to which the hon. Member refers are regarded as essential work to be encouraged and vacancies arising on it will have priority over nonessential vacancies in submitting workers covered by the Control of Engagement Order.

Mr. Fletcher

Would the Minister give greater weight to those satisfactory remarks by re-opening the Liverpool Cotton and the London Metal Exchanges?

Mr. Isaacs

That is not my responsibility.