HC Deb 19 February 1948 vol 447 cc1327-8
47. Miss Herbison

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he intends to take to ensure that the unemployed persons, registered at Shotts Employment Exchange, obtain their share of placings in the factories at Chapelhall and Newhouse Industrial Estates.

Mr. Isaacs

It has been arranged that vacancies arising at Newhouse and Chapelhall Industrial Estates will be shared by Airdrie with Shotts, Mother-well, Coatbridge, Wishaw and Bellshill in accordance with the volume of unemployment for the time being at each place. This arrangement is subject to the overriding rule that the best qualified applicants must be submitted.

Miss Herbison

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that of the unemployed registered at Shotts since July, 1947, 0.5 per cent. have obtained placings in these factories as against 2.4 per cent. of those registered at Airdrie Employment Exchange; and that we were led to believe that these factories would provide work for the unemployed of Shotts and district?

Mr. Isaacs

No, Sir. The effort we are making is to share proportionately the employment in the towns named As to the proportions mentioned by the hon. Lady, I was not aware of those particular facts, but I should like to look into them and make inquiries.