§ 35. Mr. Donnerasked The Minister of of Labour what steps have been taken to divert under-employed labour in various factories to those factories urgently in need of manpower for rearmament purposes.
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. Isaacs)I am in consultation with the two sides of industry as to the best means of meeting the labour needs of the rearmament programme as these develop. With regard to workers who may be under-employed and who wish to transfer to work on the rearmament programme, they will be helped to do so if they apply to an employment exchange.
§ Mr. DonnerAs some armament and machine tool manufacturers are seriously short of labour, will the Government consider introducing some incentive scheme, including, perhaps, the provision of "prefabs.", to such under-employed people?
§ Mr. IsaacsThe hon. Gentleman asks me what I am doing to divert unemployed labour. Well, I have no power to take a man out of one job and push him into another.
§ Mr. DonnerSurely the Government have power to make essential jobs attractive by providing such incentives?
Brigadier ClarkeWill the right hon. Gentleman stop diverting unemployed to Portsmouth, and will he, if necessary, divert some of our unemployed in Portsmouth to where they can get work?
§ Mr. IsaacsIf the hon. and gallant Gentleman will write to me and explain what he is trying to tell the House. I will give it attention.