§ 40. Mr. Russellasked the Minister of Labour how many vacancies exist in the London area for drivers and conductors of motor buses and trolley buses.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodOn 9th January, the latest date for which figures are available, 1,500 vacancies notified to local offices in the greater London area were unfilled. They were for drivers and conductors required for coaches as well as for buses and trolley buses.
§ Mr. RussellIs my right hon. Friend aware that the London Transport bus depot at Fulwell recently refused to take on any more coloured workers, on the alleged ground of the danger of unemployment? Would my right hon. Friend agree that that reason is not valid, and does it not look like an unfortunate example of colour discrimination?
§ Mr. MacleodI should like to look into the special case which my hon. Friend has mentioned. Perhaps he will have a word with me about it. Certainly the figure showing that number of vacancies would seem to indicate that that reason, if it was given, cannot be a valid one.
Mr. LeeIs the Minister aware that for many years we have had Government policy designed to reduce the number of vacancies below that of unemployed? Now that the Government have had such astonishing success in this respect, can the right hon. Gentleman indicate any change of policy so far as vacancies are concerned?
§ Mr. MacleodI think the hon. Gentleman is trying to get into this Question a supplementary question that he tried to get in a few Questions ago.