§ 22. Mr. H. Hyndasked the Minister of Labour if he will now give a date for final winding-up of the Polish Resettlement Corps.
§ Mr. IsaacsI cannot yet give a date when the last man will have left the Corps, but it is hoped to reduce the Corps to very small proportions by the end of this year.
§ Mr. HyndIn view of the fact that after this long time the members of this Corps are still receiving from the British taxpayer the pay and privileges of military ranks for non-existent military duties, will the Minister consider hastening the process of putting them on a reasonable retaining allowance?
§ Mr. IsaacsWe must carry out the obligations into which we have entered. Steps are being taken to find employment for the men and women in that Corps in such a way as will not disturb the balance of employment or create upsets in other areas. The main problem is the disabled Poles, for whom something will have to be found, but even then there will still be some left in the Corps in order to wind it up.
§ Mr. LipsonCan my right hon. Friend say how many are in the Corps at present?
§ Mr. IsaacsI am afraid I could not.
§ Mr. StokesIn support of what my hon. Friend the Member for Central Hackney (Mr. H. Hynd) has just said, may I ask whether in view of the allowances and provisions each person in the Corps gets, my right hon. Friend will take some steps to bring them more into line with the ordinary pay in industry in this country?
§ Mr. IsaacsWe place these people in employment as soon as employment is available for them. Many of them have volunteered for employment, but until we get more jobs for them in areas in which there is accommodation for them to live in. we have to keep them in the Corps.
Mr. Wilson HarrisCan my right hon. Friend say whether there are any men in the Corps who have refused employment which the authorities considered suitable for them?
§ Mr. IsaacsI should like to have notice of that question. I should like to be quite sure of the answer before I give it to the hon. Gentleman.