§ Mr. E. J. Williamsasked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will inquire into the practice adopted by contractors at the Bridgend Royal Arsenal of stopping workmen without due notice, and the hardship incurred particularly by those travelling by omnibuses from the mining valleys?
§ Mr. RamsbothamI am assured by the contractors that the notice required under the Working Rules is invariably given.
§ Mr. E. J. Williamsasked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that great dissatisfaction is expressed by workers at the Bridgend Royal Arsenal at the dismissal and the threatened dismissal of local labour whilst their jobs are given to persons until recently employed at Chorley and other places and engaged direct by the contractors; and what steps he proposes to take to carry out his undertaking that priority of employment would be given to persons resident in this distressed area?
§ Mr. RamsbothamI am assured that the contractors are doing all in their power to absorb as much local labour as possible, but that the supply of skilled and experienced labour available locally is insufficient to obviate the necessity of importing a percentage of such labour. The undertaking given by my right hon. Friend was 1321W that all vacancies notified to the Bridgend Employment Exchange would be brought to the notice of suitably qualified men in the locality or in neighbouring areas. This undertaking is being carried out.