HC Deb 19 February 1948 vol 447 cc1332-3
53. Mr. Piratin

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has investigated the case brought to his attention by the hon. Member for Mile End of Polish ex-Service men being employed as barmen, waiters, porters and musicians at the Red Lion Hotel, High Wycombe; whether permits were granted by the Ministry of Labour for these men to be employed in that capacity; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Isaacs

I am making inquiries and will write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Piratin

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him to bear in mind that the Polish musicians are taking the place of a band, all the members of which belong to the Musicians' Union?

Mr. Isaacs

I have to inform the House that the Musicians' Union have already asked me to inquire into this matter, and I am dealing with it.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Is it not the case in some quarters of the House that if the Poles take jobs they are abused and if they do not they are called drones? Was there not a time in our hour of greatest danger when many thousands of Poles meant more to this country than the hon. Member for Mile End (Mr. Piratin)?

Mr. Piratin

May I ask the Minister to bear in mind that the essence of my Question is merely to ensure that such Poles who are in this country do not in any way scab or blackleg on British labour and that in this case they are actually replacing British labour? That is the essence of my Question, and if the hon. Member for Mid-Bedford (Mr. Lennox-Boyd) disputes that, he is in favour of scab labour.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

Does the right hon. Gentleman approve of this vendetta against Poles who want to work here rather than to return to Communist Poland?

Mr. Isaacs

May I confine myself to the Question? There has been a complaint. The understanding which was reached and has been accepted by everybody is that foreign labour can only be employed when no British labour is available and willing to do the work. I will say no more about this case until the results of my inquiries are available.

Earl Winterton

Does that mean that for all time our ex-Allies who are allowed to work in this country have to go to the right hon. Gentleman before getting permission to take a job?

Mr. Isaacs

No, Sir. This is much too lengthy a subject to deal with by question and answer. These men are first in the Resettlement Corps and they then go into a job. After a lapse of time, they become completely free and they will then be entitled to take any employment they choose.