HC Deb 24 February 1960 vol 618 cc343-4
4. Mr. Bence

asked the Minister of Labour what progress his officers have made in finding suitable employment for disabled miners made redundant as a result of pit closures in the Twechar, Croy and Kirkintilloch areas of Dunbartonshire.

Mr. Heath

Since my hon. Friend replied to the hon. Member's previous Question on the subject on 26th January, one of these disabled miners has been placed in employment. Efforts to find suitable work for the others are continuing.

Mr. Bence

As there is a heavy incidence of unemployment in Scotland,

Lady Tweedsmuir

Will the Minister pay particular attention to the problems of the shipbuilding industry and especially those of Messrs. Hall Russell and Company, of Aberdeen, which may well have to discharge quite a number of men in the near future if it is unable to win a contract from the Nigerian Government? Would my right hon. Friend be good enough to look into the problems of this company to see whether he can help in any way?

Mr. Heath

We shall certainly do that.

Following is the table:

will the right hon. Gentleman make a special effort in this matter, since it is almost impossible for disabled men to get employment when there is so much unemployment among physically able men? Would he establish a Remploy factory in the area, so that the hundreds of disabled miners between 25 and 45 years of age can be employed in useful work instead of having to waste the rest of their lives in their villages?

Mr. Heath

There is a special difficulty about these 14 disabled miners. Quite naturally, they want to find jobs again with the National Coal Board and it is difficult to find suitable light jobs, because they are already taken at the other pits by disabled men, but we will continue our efforts.

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