HC Deb 03 February 1948 vol 446 cc1612-3
5. Mrs. Nichol

asked the Minister of Labour why the employment exchanges throughout the country were kept open on Saturday afternoon of 24th January for the purpose of registering persons not gainfully employed, when these people had five and a half days in which to register.

Mr. Isaacs

The local offices of my Department were open on the Saturday afternoon to enable persons to register who were prevented for any reason from attending on their allotted days earlier in the week.

Mrs. Nichol

If they were not gainfully employed, it seems incredible that they should not be in a position to register earlier in the week.

Mr. Isaacs

The local offices were opened on the Saturday afternoon to give them every opportunity of registering, and to avoid the excuse that they were prevented from attending on other days.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many actually registered on that Saturday afternoon?

Mr. Isaacs

Not without notice.