§ 43. Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Minister of Labour in what way his officers in the West Midlands region are advising, under the provisions of the Notification of Vacancies Order, engineering workers who are seeking employment in other engineering factories.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service (Mr. Harold Watkinson)The advice that would be given would depend upon a number of circumstances such as the nature of the work that the applicant had been doing, what he would like to do, his general experience and ability, and the relative importance of vacancies for which he would be suitable.
§ Mr. JohnsonWhile thanking the hon. Gentleman for that answer, may I ask whether he is aware that some members of the Coventry Confederation of Employers have, apparently, a tacit agreement not to employ certain engineering workers from the Rugby factories? Would he not agree that it is a bad thing that some workers should not have mobility to change their jobs and thus to better themselves?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI certainly think that it would be a very bad thing if either employers or trade unions stood in the way of getting the right men into the right jobs in the national interest.