HC Deb 16 March 1948 vol 448 cc1858-9
13 and 14. Mr. Langford-Holt

asked the Minister of Labour (1) the number of persons who registered under S.R. & O., 2409, as not being gainfully employed, and how many of those who registered have now been placed in work of national importance;

(2) the total number of persons who have registered in all categories under S.R. & O., 2409; and how many of those who registered have now been placed in work of national importance.

Mr. Isaacs

Up to 28th February, 70,780 persons had been registered under the Registration for Employment Order, of whom 13,174 were street traders, 23,289 were persons not gainfully employed or gainfully occupied, and 34,317 were employed by certain non-essential undertakings. The work of examining all these cases, and, where necessary, interviewing the person registered, will take a considerable time. Up to 18th February, 1,692 persons registered had been placed in work of national importance, of whom 133 were registered as street traders, 1,508 as persons not gainfully employed or gainfully occupied, and 51 as employed in nonessential undertakings.

Mr. Langford-Holt

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider, firstly, that 70,000-odd represents the total number who were liable for registration; secondly, that the figure of 1,000-odd which he has given is a satisfactory number of placements as a result of that registration; and, finally, that it justifies that registration?

Mr. Isaacs

As for the first part of the supplementary question, I cannot give an answer because the registration is not yet complete, but is continuing. As to the second part, all of the people who were offered these posts accepted them. None of them was directed nor was any pressure brought to bear on them. As the whole list has to be surveyed, it is not bad to get an extra thousand.

Mr. Langford-Holt

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the survey will be completed?

Mr. Isaacs

No, Sir, I cannot.

Mr. Frank Byers

Can the Minister say what proportion the number of people placed bears to the total number of civil servants in the Ministry of Labour?

Mr. Isaacs

I will get a mathematician to work that out for me. Every person employed in the Ministry of Labour is fully and gainfully employed—[Interruption.]—except the Minister.