§ 11. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Labour what steps he will take to find alternative employment for building workers dismissed by local authorities in London as a result of cuts in the housing repair programme.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe employment exchanges will do everything possible to find suitable employment for any unemployed workers who register for employment. I am, however, not aware of any general cuts in housing repair work in London likely to lead to dismissals by local authorities of appreciable numbers of men from their building labour forces.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Lambeth Borough Council, for example, are having to sack 50 building workers this Christmas because the Minister of Housing and Local Government has cut down the repair programme for requisitioned property? Will the hon. Gentleman have a word with his right hon. Friend, who is apparently increasing unemployment as well as the number of houses in need of repair? More people out of work and more slums will be the result of this lack of policy on the part of Her Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe hon. and gallant Member refers only to requisitioned houses. I hope that he will vote for my right hon. Friend's Bill, to make up for it.