§ Lieut.-Commander Tufnellasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a large number of operatives in the building trade are still without employment; and whether he will arrange an emergency conference with the appropriate defence Ministries to consider how immediate use can be made of the services of the various building firms to assist in schemes of national defence?
§ Mr. BevinThe unemployment returns relating to 17th June show that there has been a considerable reduction of unemployment amongst building trade workers, and I have every reason to believe that this reduction is continuing. In certain building trade occupations there is an acute shortage of labour. My Department is in constant touch with the Defence Departments to ensure the provision of labour for urgent defence works, and though preference for this work is given to building and civil engineering labour1352W it has been necessary frequently to employ labour from other industries.