§ Mr. Joelasked (1) the Minister of Supply what steps are being taken to bring to the notice of large Government contractors the lists of technical personnel who are unemployed and whose names are on the Central Register; and whether 407W he can take action in this matter at the earliest opportunity;
(2) the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the desirability of making the Central Register a more active organisation for finding employment for those whose names are still on its books as unemployed; and whether, in particular, he can arrange for the register to circulate to Government Departments and other large employers of professional, technical and scientific persons lists of persons who are still available for and anxious to have employment?
§ Mr. BevinThe Central Register is not primarily designed for placing unemployed personnel into employment, but is intended to be a register of persons with high professional, technical or administrative qualifications, nearly all of whom are already in employment, with a view to enabling posts in Government Departments or in firms engaged on war work to be filled by the best qualified persons. If there are candidates of equal qualifications it is the obvious course to put forward those who are not already in employment. Steps have already been taken to bring the services of the Central Register to the notice of Government Departments and Government contractors, and I am considering what additional steps can be taken to make known the categories of highly qualified persons who are available on the Register for transfer to war work. It would defeat the object of the Central Register if it were to be used primarily as an agency for finding work for the unemployed. For that purpose, the Supplementary Register has been formed and unemployed persons of suitable qualifications who are in need of immediate employment can register with the Supplementary Register whether or not their names are on the Central Register. In that event every effort is made to put them in touch with employment suitable to their qualifications. I would, however, remind my hon. Friend of the statement I made in reply to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for East Leicester (Mr. Lyons) on 27th June, indicating that in many cases the special qualifications of professional and business men and women are not such as can be utilised in the war industries, and that where that is the case they should be408W prepared to take other work of a kind which they would not expect to take in peace-time.