Sir J. DAVIDSONasked the Minister of Labour whether he can make any statement with regard to the arrangements for the employment of British workmen in France?
§ Sir M. BARLOWMy Department have made arrangements to obtain carefully verified particulars of certain vacancies for skilled engineering workmen in France, and to bring these vacancies to the notice of suitable unemployed persons in this country. Assist- 1751W ance is given towards the payment of fares of selected workmen. During the past two months, experience of these arrangements has shown that difficulties arise principally owing to unfamiliarity with the French mode of living and workshop arrangements; moreover, the rate of exchange makes the French wages relatively unfavourable in the case of British workmen. I am satisfied, however, from careful inquiries which have boon made at the works in Paris and Nevers, to which most of the men have been sent, that the employers at these works have fully carried out their contracts with the men and, moreover, are prepared to do all in their power to give British workmen a fair chance. In my opinion, there is no reason why a workman with the requisite skill who obtains employment there and makes a real effort to adapt himself to new conditions, should not find it satisfactory, and certainly far preferable to remaining unemployed at home. Certain criticisms have appeared in the Press, but these criticisms, so far as they are accurate, amount to nothing more than a complaint that the mode of living and other conditions in France are different from those in Great Britain. I should add that certain special difficulties have occurred in the case of a party of eight men sent to Douai on 19th July, and these are being investigated.