§ 11. Mr. Edward Daviesasked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons in Stoke-on-Trent have been unemployed for 12 months and six months, respectively; and what steps are being taken to assist them to obtain suitable work.
§ Sir W. MoncktonAt 13th October, 1952, the number of disabled persons in Stoke-on-Trent who had been unemployed for 12 months was 135; a further 117 had been unemployed for six months. Continuous efforts are being made by my local officers to assist them to find suitable employment.
§ Mr. DaviesIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that some of these men are giving up hope of ever getting a job, and would he not agree that there are considerations other than commercial considerations concerning many of these men who cannot do 100 per cent. work? Will he, in the light of what has been said previously, in respect of both Service men and industrial casualties, review the whole position to see if he can give these men, many of whom are in middle age, some hope?
§ Sir W. MoncktonI completely sympathise with the point of view that one ought not to look at this matter purely on a commercial basis, and I assure the hon. Gentleman that I do not intend to do so. When I spoke of my conversations with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, I had in mind that I had to deal with those for whom I could get employment and who could hold that employment. He has wider opportunities, and I think we ought to get together about it, and then, as I have said, I am prepared to answer Questions at a later date in the House.
§ Dr. StrossWould the Minister bear in mind that part at least of this problem is covered by the Remploy factories in the district, and can he promise the House that he will use his influence to see that Government Departments give larger and more frequent orders, so that at least 50 or 60 per cent. of the output from these factories is from that source?
§ Sir W. MoncktonAs I have assured the House in answer to an earlier Question, I have now an officer whose task it is to see that our priority position in that regard is respected in the Government Departments.
§ 12. Mr. Edward Daviesasked the Minister of Labour what are the present unemployment figures for Stoke-on-Trent, showing men and women separately; and how many of this number are registered as disabled persons.
§ Sir W. Monckton1,175 males and 1,142 females at 15th September, of whom 488 males and 51 females were registered disabled persons.
§ Mr. DaviesDo not these figures show that, in addition to the long-standing unemployed disabled persons, there is a problem concerning able-bodied men, and is there not a case, so far as the disabled persons are concerned, for an examination of some of the jobs being done in the ordnance factories particularly, to see whether some of these men can be engaged?
§ Sir W. MoncktonI would point out that the total of the two figures which I gave for males and females represents 1.5 per cent. of the estimated total of employees in the area, and, looking at the country as a whole, one has to keep this matter in proportion. As the hon. Gentleman well knows, there are unemployment difficulties to be found especially in the china and earthenware trades.
Mr. LeeWould the right hon. and learned Gentleman see, with his colleagues, whether this problem could not be tackled much better if the working of the Distribution of Industry Act was more within the scope of the Ministry of Labour than the Board of Trade?
§ Sir W. MoncktonI appreciate that question, coming from the source from which it came