§ 36. Mrs. Braddockasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that there is a notice in Merseyside employment exchanges that labour for Capenhurst can only be recruited through usual exchanges and cannot be taken on on the site; that the Capenhurst project was to relieve unemployment on Merseyside, and that there is concern on Merseyside that a sub-office has been opened by the Chester exchange on the Capenhurst site, and an average of 12 men per day are being taken on through that sub-office; and if he will secure a uniform method of recruitment.
§ Mr. BevanThe arrangements for recruiting workers for Capenhurst are specially designed to give a preference to Merseyside, and 93 per cent. of the vacancies have been filled by Merseyside men. Vacancies notified to the sub-office on the site are passed to the Merseyside employment exchanges, and the purpose of the notice, to which my hon. Friend refers, is to save men the expense of a personal application on the spot.
§ Mrs. BraddockIs my right hon. Friend aware that that is not the assumption by the men on Merseyside? Will he make certain that there is not preferential treatment of people being selected specially and being sent to the sub-office at Capenhurst rather than of people being recruited definitely from Merseyside exchanges?
§ Mr. BevanAs my hon. Friend will see from the figures I have given, there is no need to be apprehensive about this matter. I understand, however, that the notice at the exchanges is not very well worded, and we are going to alter it.