HC Deb 26 February 1953 vol 511 cc2300-2
46. Mr, Hector Hughes

asked the Minister of Labour if he will specify the numbers of persons now unemployed in the Aberdeen shipbuilding and repairing yards, and also in the other engineering works there as compared with the similar figures for each of the last five years.

Sir W. Monckton

As the reply includes a table of figures I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Hughes

Thank you.

Following is the reply: state the circumstances in which the figures have changed; and what action he is taking to maintain full and useful employment in those industries.

Sir W. Monckton

At 16th February, 1953, 438 persons from the motor and associated industries were registered as wholly unemployed in Coventry and adjoining areas and 2,163 as temporarily stopped compared with 298 wholly unemployed and none temporarily stopped on 11th February, 1952. A total of 4,700 workers from these industries were working short-time in the area during the week ended 14th February, 1953, compared with 4,800 during the week ended 9th February, 1952.

A year ago the short-time was mainly due to shortage of steel; current unemployment and under-employment are due to the fall in exports. The effective way to counteract this is to continue our policy of putting our economy, as a trading nation, on a sound basis.

Mr. Edelman

Does not this show an alarming situation in one of our key industries? Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the unemployment and under-employment shown by his figures would have been even greater had it not been for their concealment as a result of trade union resistance and short-time working? Is he aware that labour relations in Coventry and the surrounding district have never been worse and will shortly be expressed by a mass demonstration? What concrete action does he intend to take?

Sir W. Monckton

First of all, the House will have noticed that the short-time figures for February last year and February this year are approximately the same, although for different causes. Passing from the short-time figures to the unemployment figures, I submit that when we look at this problem in Coventry and compare it with unemployment in the rest of the country we must remember that the figure in Coventry, an average of 1.1 per cent. of the employed population, is not high. Turning to labour relations, my officers and I have done our best to play our part in restoring any lack of good relations. I will certainly continue to do that.

Mr. Ellis Smith

Is the Minister aware that what the men cannot understand is this: that the aircraft industry is urgently in need of large numbers of men and that here in the Coventry area are just the men who could readily be transferred to that kind of work—or the sub-contracting could be sent to Coventry? Why is not some arrangement made to deal with this?

Sir W. Monckton

The House will be aware that it is only a short time since steps were taken to remove the ban by which the Coventry area was closed to the entry of these other industries. Every effort is made to transfer men who are out of work to this and other industries, especially the aircraft industry, where skilled men are wanted. It is not always easy to say that because men are on short time they are available to be transferred somewhere else.

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