§ 49. Commander Purseyasked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of firms in the Hull area which have declared redundancies in the last three months; what is the total number of redundancies; and what steps his Department is taking to provide alternative employment and so prevent the movement of labour to the south to obtain employment and better pay and conditions.
§ Mr. WhitelawBetween mid-October and mid-January notifications of redundancy were received at our Hull and Hessle Offices from 11 firms, and about 340 workers are known to have become 579 redundant during this period. Our local officers will continue to do everything they can to find alternative employment for all those registered.
§ Commander PurseyWhy do not the Government appeal to employers, who are largely their own supporters, not to sack their employees in bad weather as they did 50 years ago when the bosses fed their 'osses and sacked their men?
§ Mr. WhitelawI am looking forward very much to seeing the hon. and gallant Member in a short time when, I am sure, he will explain these arguments at greater length.
§ 50. Commander Purseyasked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to build a new employment exchange in Hull, in order to house all his local departments in one building, to provide adequate accommodation for the 5,447 unemployed persons, and to reduce the time they have to spend there.
§ Mr. WhitelawWhilst the accommodation at the Hull Employment Exchange provides adequate waiting accommodation for the unemployed, the premises are not under one roof. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works is negotiating with the Hull Corporation to purchase a site for a building which he hopes to start in 1966 or 1967 to house all the departments in one building.
§ Commander PurseyIs the Minister aware that these 5,000 unemployed have been standing for long periods in the snow in the market place of Hull? Will not he do something to enlarge and improve the present employment exchange in that city?
§ Mr. WhitelawWe have no information to the same effect as the hon. Member regarding people having to stand for long periods. However, efforts that have been made should ensure that they do not have to do so. They are asked to report at different times for the specific purpose of avoiding this. If the hon. Member can show definite evidence of what he says, I will certainly look into it. As I have said, however, that certainly is not our information.
§ Mr. JegerCan the Minister say how many unemployed people will be catered 580 for by his Department in the proposed new building at Hull?
§ Mr. WhitelawI do not think that that is a question which it would be either wise or competent for me to answer.