§ 7. Mrs. Hartasked the Minister of Labour if employment has yet been offered to those former miners displaced by the closure of Baads Colliery in West Lothian who live in the village of Wool-fords, Lanarkshire.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. William Whitelaw)I understand that 18 miners
§ if he thinks it is likely to worsen, can he say what action he proposes to take to alleviate it?
§ Mr. HareIt is very difficult to make prophecies about unemployment. I think it would be quite wrong not to recognise that seasonal factors are likely to worsen the position, rather than improve it, before it gets better. I should not like to give any false hopes to my hon. Friend.
§ Following are the Tables:
§ living in Woolfords became redundant as a result of this closure. Of these, 15 were recently interviewed by the National Coal Board for employment in the Lothians. Seven have started work, three were unfit and five rejected the offer. Our local officers will make every effort to find other work for those still unemployed.
§ Mrs. HartWhile thanking the Parliamentary Secretary for that reply, may I ask him if he is aware that these efforts 577 might have been made more successfully earlier had it not been for the absurdity that, although administratively these miners are within Lanarkshire and were, therefore, appropriately directed to the Lanark Employment Exchange, in all geographical common sense they are nearer West Lothian, and that only quite recently was this brought to his notice?
§ Mr. WhitelawHowever that may be, I think the hon. Lady will agree that the efforts now are proving reasonably successful.