§ Sir R. Glynasked the Minister of Transport whether, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned, he will call a census to be taken of the number of Irishmen employed in carrying out various road-improvement schemes in Scotland; if he is aware that the records of work done indicate that for some days in the autumn of last year much of the work was suspended on account of the return to Eire of many foremen and labourers; and whether he will take steps to see that preference shall be given to unemployed Scotsmen?
§ Mr. BurginIt is a condition of grants from the Road Fund that contractors for road works shall obtain labour as far as possible through the Employment Exchanges. The Standard Form of Contract provides that the contractors shall from time to time notify the officers in charge of the Local Exchanges of the skilled or unskilled labour required. Preference is given by the Exchanges, first to local applicants, and then, so far as is practicable, to suitably qualified persons from areas of heavy unemployment in Great Britain. I have no information of any abnormal stoppage of work due to circumstances such as those indicated in the question and I do not see my way to arrange for a census as suggested by my hon. Friend.