§ 9. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the rising unemployment among skippers and mates in the Grimsby fishing industry, he will arrange for a special investigation to be made into the position of these elderly men; and what steps he proposes to take to provide them with alternative employment.
§ Mr. IsaacsMy Department has the employment position in Grimsby under constant review, and is making every effort to find alternative employment for persons who are unemployed as a result of the decline in the fishing industry, particularly the elderly workers to whom the hon. Member refers. As I informed the hon. Member on 17th October, we are co-operating with the Board of Trade to get additional industry into the area.
§ Mr. OsborneWill the Minister pay pay special attention to these elderly men, who find it very difficult to get a job now that their boats are laid up?
§ Mr. IsaacsI entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman's suggestion. We are constantly pressing upon employers to give elderly men a chance. As to the situation in this industry, projects have already been started employing 700 additional men and 600 additional women, and other projects are in hand for approximately a similar number. That will go a long way towards breaking the back of this problem.