HC Deb 29 April 1952 vol 499 cc1207-8
22. Mr. Maurice Edelman

asked the Minister of Labour what new means he proposes to use in order to obtain labour for super-priority aircraft; and how he will harmonise labour requirements of the super-priority programme with the requirements of the export industries.

Sir W. Monckton

Lists of undertakings engaged on aircraft production to which super-priority has been given have been circulated to the appropriate employment exchanges, who have been instructed to give special attention to their labour requirements. They have further been advised to do this with as little prejudice as possible to the needs of the export programme.

Mr. Edelman

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman assure the House that this new range of priorities, originally established in order to ensure the most suitable direction of raw materials, will not involve a new and possibly a limited direction of labour?

Sir W. Monckton

It will not do that. We cannot, after all, nor would we desire to, put a symbol on labour. All that we can do is to draw attention through the employment exchanges to these tasks of particular importance, but at the same time, they can only be dealt with by discretion because an individual case may turn out to be suitable not so much for super-priority as for the export trade. I cannot lay down a general rule.

Mr. John Profumo

Is the Minister aware that the allocation of super-priorities to certain sections of the aircraft industry will, in fact, perform the dual function not only of stepping up the re-armament programme but also in the field of export, where they can be of inestimable value?

Sir W. Monckton

I very much hope that will be the case.

Mr. George Wigg

Will the Minister give an assurance that the super-priority arrangements have been carefully worked out and based on sound administrative principles, and that they are not the result of a half-baked scheme of the Prime Minister which has not been worked out?

Sir W. Monckton

So far as my own Department is concerned, we have done our best to work out the scheme very carefully with the employment exchanges and other departments, and, so far as I can judge at present, I think it is working satisfactorily.

Mr. Lee

Will the Minister make quite sure that it is not a question of one section of the industry being reserved, otherwise he may be reserving people of no particular skill?

Sir W. Monckton

I follow that.