§ 4. Mr. Ralph Morleyasked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the increase in unemployment 1691 amongst the workers in the shipbuilding and ship-repairing trades in Southampton; and what plans he has to remedy this.
§ Mr. IsaacsI am aware that there has recently been some increase in unemployment among workers in the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industries in Southampton, but fresh opportunties for employment will shortly become available when the winter overhaul of passenger ships and work in connection with the defence programme begin.
§ Mr. MorleyIs my right hon. Friend aware that there has been, not "some increase", but a very serious increase in unemployment; that the winter overhaul programme will not provide sufficient work to absorb all the unemployed, and that he must bring additional work to the Port of Southampton? Will he try his best to do so?
§ Mr. IsaacsYes, Sir. The interesting suggestions that my hon. Friend made in his comments to me the other day about additional work have been most sympathetically looked at.
Air Commodore HarveyIs the Minister aware that he can help the situation by persuading B.O.A.C. to continue to operate Solent flying boats from Southampton Water?