§ 24. Mr. Carmichaelasked the Minister of Labour how his Department in the Glasgow area arrives at the classifications, light labourer, and heavy labourer; and what procedure is available to allow someone classified as the former to be reclassified as the latter.
§ Mr. WhitelawA heavy labourer is one who can do heavy work such as shovelling or stacking heavy materials; a light labourer is one who cannot do such heavy work. Anyone registering at an employment exchange may ask to be reclassified.
§ Mr. CarmichaelIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that frequently people are classified in the employment exchange on the basis of the last job they did and not of their record over a period? People find great difficulty in getting reclassified in the Glasgow area. The officers of his Department tend to take the lowest possible wage for light labourers prevailing in the area. This classification can mean anything from 10s. to £1 for an individual who is on National Assistance and affected by the wage stop. Will the Department look into this matter?
§ Mr. WhitelawI think I can assure the hon. Member that our local officers do this classification in the light of their local knowledge and experience. An applicant's classification is reviewed after each spell of employment and also periodically, with the object of improving his prospects of getting work. This is one of the main objects of classification.
§ Miss HerbisonDoes not the hon. Gentleman realise that in areas of high unemployment it is an advantage to a man to be classified as a heavy rather than a light labourer, even if he is not able to do the job? A miner in my constituency who was earning £22 10s. a week was classified as a light labourer and the wage was set at £7 10s. a week. It is because of such cases of hardship that my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Woodside (Mr. Carmichael) is concerned.
§ Mr. WhitelawI am grateful to the hon. Lady for bringing this to my attention and I shall see that it is brought to the attention of our officers.