HC Deb 18 October 1949 vol 468 cc464-5
15. Sir W. Darling

asked the Minister of Labour what is the cost of advertising for labour for his Department in 1947, 1948 and 1949.

Mr. Isaacs

The expenditure incurred by my Department on advertising for labour, including the estimated cost of administrative staff, is approximately as follows: 1947, £7,000; 1948, £9,000; 1949 (January-July), £8,000.

Sir W. Darling

Is the Minister satisfied that a Department which is organised for the provision of labour should itself have to resort to other methods to secure it? Is it not a Department organised to secure its own labour?

Mr. Isaacs

Yes, Sir; this is indeed part of the organisation. If an employer comes along and wants a certain class of worker and we have not got that class of worker on our registers, we advertise to let the people know that the jobs are going.

Sir W. Darling

May I take it that it is a fact that the daily Press is more useful in securing labour than the Ministry's own Department?

Mr. Isaacs

Not in the least. The daily Press is often used as an adjunct to my Department.

16. Sir W. Darling

asked the Minister of Labour why it is necessary for his Department to advertise for females between 15 and 45 when the vacancies of all Ministry of Labour offices and officers are at his disposal for such recruiting of staffs.

Mr. Isaacs

The advertisements are being issued on behalf of the Treasury and Civil Service Commission. Their purpose is to call the attention of women and girls—whether they are registered at employment exchanges or not—to new opportunities for shorthand-typists and typists to secure permanent posts in the Civil Service in London.

Sir W. Darling

Does not the right hon. Gentleman take a very poor view of his own Department having to engage in advertising for girls to work in his Department when he has the resource of registering them?

Mr. Isaacs

The answer is the same as that which I have given to a previous Question. We have a number of young people leaving school who do not register at the exchanges; therefore, we advertise to let them know that these jobs are going.

Mr. Lipson

Is it not a fact that people only apply to the employment exchanges when they are out of work, and that these advertisements are intended for those people who want a better kind of job?

Mr. Isaacs

I could not put the answer better than the hon. Gentleman has done.

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