§ 49. Mr. Bramallasked the Minister of Labour if he will initiate a system of grants for travelling expenses to unemployed men in areas where there is little or no local employment and where long journeys have to be undertaken to look for work.
§ Mr. IsaacsNo, Sir; the employment exchanges were set up in order to obviate the need for men to travel the country looking for work. Where work has been found for a man, arrangements already exist for the payment of travelling expenses to such work.
§ Mr. BramallIs my right hon. Friend aware that in suburban areas, where there is little work, many men have to find employment for themselves, and are 2276 incurring almost unbearable expense in looking for jobs?
§ Mr. IsaacsI cannot accept that. The employment exchanges keep a register of employment within their areas. Men are told to go elsewhere if there are no vacancies in their own area and if they do their expenses are paid.
§ Mr. HouseIs my right hon. Friend aware that tilers and steel erectors often travel from 10 to 20 miles a day to find work for themselves, at a cost of perhaps £I a week? Will he look into this matter?
§ Mr. IsaacsIf any example of that kind is brought to my notice, I will inquire why it is that a vacancy known to exist in one area was not notified to another area.