HC Deb 04 April 1950 vol 473 cc994-5
37. Mr. Porter

asked the Minister of Labour if he will consult with employers with a view to securing that a fair percentage of men over 50 years of age shall be employed as vacancies in industry arise.

Mr. Isaacs

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for the Sutton Division of Plymouth (Mrs. Middleton) on 28th March, the representative bodies in industry are well aware of the need to employ older people. They are sympathetic, but the real problem is to get individual employers to act and, as I said before, this takes time. The local offices of the Ministry have been instructed to take every opportunity of persuading employers to consider older men on their merits.

Mr. Porter

Failing the opportunity to. introduce some scheme similar to that in regard to disabled persons, can my right hon. Friend help the situation by persuading those responsible for the nationalised industries to develop something along these lines as an inducement to other employers?

Mr. Isaacs

I am afraid that would require legislation, which is outside my scope, but we do try, I think with some little success, although not with as much as we should like, to persuade employers to take some of these people.

Mr. Osborne

Does not the Minister agree that most private employers keep their workers at well over 50 years of age and employ as many as they possibly can?

Mr. Isaacs

I am not dealing with those who keep their employees. I must say, however, that we have very great difficulty in finding employment for most people over 50 years of age who are quite capable of giving service. I hope that we can get the co-operation of the employers in this matter.