HC Deb 29 January 1952 vol 495 cc1-3
2. Mr. Stephen Swingler

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy for manning of essential industries.

8. Mr. Norman Dodds

asked the Minister of Labour what proposals he has to retain existing labour in the essential industries and obtain the labour force for the re-armament programme.

The Minister of Labour (Sir Walter Monckton)

I would ask the hon. Members to await the statement of the Government's proposals to deal with the economic situation which will be made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

3. Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Labour what numbers of persons he estimates will be required to change their occupations in order to provide sufficient labour for the re-armament programme.

Sir W. Monckton

I regret that it is not practicable to make such an estimate.

Mr. Swingler

In view of the fact that the Minister has made a number of statements in speeches in the country giving estimates of the numbers required to change their occupations, would he state from what industries he proposes to draw these respective munition workers?

Sir W. Monckton

The difficulty about making an estimate of those who will have to change their occupation is that some people will be doing precisely the same job with the same employer in the same works, but it will be a defence job; some will be under the same employer still doing the same thing in another part of the factory, and some will move altogether from that employment to another employment that will still be in the same occupation. That is the difficulty about the estimate.

Mr. Desmond Donnelly

Is the Minister really saying that he has no idea how many will be required?

Sir W. Monckton

No, Sir.