HC Deb 28 February 1957 vol 565 cc1367-9
3. Miss Burton

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is in a position to make a statement concerning the special inquiry which has been made into the desirability of introducing new remedial measures for helping existing unemployment and redundancy.

The Minister of Labour and National Service (Mr. Iain Macleod)

I have now received reports from my regional controllers throughout the country on the adequacy of the present arrangements for assisting unemployed workers to transfer to other districts. A variey of views has been expressed as a result of the different conditions obtaining, although it is evident that there is a widespread reluctance on the part of workers to leave home for employment elsewhere. This is a matter of considerable importance and difficulty, and I am considering in the light of the controllers' reports whether it would be desirable to introduce certain alterations to our present arrangements. I shall hope to announce my conclusions shortly.

Miss Burton

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the last part of his Answer will give great satisfaction, certainly in Coventry, where this is a very real problem? Without pressing the Minister any further in detail, may I ask him, as this is a very urgent matter to us, whether he has any idea when he may be in a position to announce this alteration?

Mr. Macleod

I will not tie myself to a date. I shall go on as quickly as I can with this. As the hon. Lady knows, any arrangements which I bring forward, if I decide that alterations are necessary, must be applicable not only to Coventry but to all other parts of the country. I will let the hon. Lady know as soon as I am ready to make a statement.

Mr. Robens

Is the right hon. Gentleman trying to ascertain the reason for the reluctance of workers to transfer? Is it because of housing difficulties and matters of that kind, or need of financial help with transfer? Is the right hon. Gentleman making some inquiry into that?

Mr. Macleod

Yes; the answers to those questions vary, and so it is not easy to give a simple response to them. In many cases, particularly in an area which has been very prosperous—and this applies, perhaps, to the hon. Lady's constituency—people are reluctant to move until they are quite convinced that boom conditions will not come back. That is a factor of great imporance.

Mr. Nabarro

Will my right hon. Friend not agree at once that a policy of full employment must depend on the mobility of labour? Is that not a policy advocated by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Bevan), one of my right hon. Friend's more distinguished predecessors?

Mr. Macleod

I do not think that there is any dispute about this. The object of this Question, I hope, is to try to facilitate the mobility of labour.