HC Deb 22 February 1961 vol 635 cc498-9
30. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the redundancy, short-time working and suspensions of workers in the motor industry and its associated industries where Aberdeen workers are affected, what steps he is taking to find employment for those Aberdeen workers; and with what success.

Mr. Hare

Of the 91 workers placed by my Aberdeen office with firms in the motor car and associated industries since the end of 1959, so far as I am aware 19 have become redundant. Facilities were offered to these as to other redundant workers to register before discharge and every effort will be made to find them other work. Information is not available about workers from Aberdeen who found their own jobs in these industries, or about those on short time.

Mr. Hughes

I thank the Minister for that Answer, but is it not obvious that the present situation results in considerable waste of manpower and productive capacity and, therefore, intake of foreign currency, which is damaging to the nation? Is it not time that there was a nation-wide co-ordinated plan to deal with the relevant problems and to prevent that waste? What steps is the Minister taking in conjunction with the T.U.C., the President of the Board of Trade and his own Department to solve these problems in a constructive and permanent way?

Mr. Hare

As the hon. and learned Members knows, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is doing all he can to help in areas such as Aberdeen which benefit under the Local Employment Act. Concerning the further and wider range of subjects which the hon. and learned Member has mentioned, I was not sure whether he was desirous of putting an embargo upon all the citizens of Aberdeen who might try to seek work elsewhere. He had better be careful before pursuing that one.