HC Deb 20 October 1949 vol 468 c725
1. Mr. Marples

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the shortage of manpower in the mines, he will now approach the Italian Government with a view to recruiting suitable workers from the unemployed in Italy.

The Minister of Labour (Mr. Isaacs)

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to him on 24th May last.

Mr. Marples

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconcile the rather negative attitude he is now going to take to get workers with the speech of Mr. Arthur Horner, in which he said that there will be a manpower crisis and that there are not sufficient men in the mines?

Mr. Isaacs

It is not for me to answer Mr. Arthur Horner's speech. The position is as I stated then. We are still able to recruit foreign workers from other countries coming out of other industries and bring them into coal mines.