§ 23. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to impending redundancy among Dundee gas workers; and what steps he is taking to provide alternative employment.
§ Mr. GreenYes, Sir. Our local officers have arranged to register the men affected in advance of their discharge and they will do everything possible to find alternative work for those seeking it. Generally the prospects for these men are good.
§ Mr. ThomsonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this redundancy was foreshadowed two or three years ago? Technical change showed that it would come about. Is it not disappointing that a Government board should not have taken more adequate steps to run the establishment down without redundancy? How early was his Department informed of this, and what steps did it take to prevent unemployment?
§ Mr. GreenI cannot answer the hon. Gentleman's last point without notice, but I will endeavour to find out and let him know.
§ Mr. StracheyWould not the hon. Gentleman agree that it is not altogether the fault of the board but also of the Government for not producing alternative employment for these men earlier in Dundee when it was known for a long time that this situation would arise?
§ Mr. GreenThe right hon. Gentleman should bear in mind that that is part of the reason why the Government have scheduled this area as a development district. Over 11,000 workers there are now employed in jobs created since the war. Of these, about 7,000 are employed in Government-built factories.