§ Sir J. Walker-Smithasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the conditions in respect of lodging, living and travelling arrangements of large numbers of men belonging to the building and civil engineering constructional industries sent by his Department to work at various outlying places upon Government works of great urgency and importance are often unsatisfactory and, in many cases, deplorable and whether, as such conditions have been well known for many 1451W weeks, he will deal with the matter promptly and sympathetically under the very ample powers with which he has been vested?
§ Mr. E. BevinThe difficulties to which my hon. Friend refers are largely due to inadequate attention being paid by the contractors in planning their organisation to the need for adequate lodging, living and travelling arrangements for the work-people. My Department together with the Departments responsible for the general arrangements for billeting, feeding and transport give every assistance in their power and I am in communication with representatives of the building and civil engineering industries as to further steps which I consider should be taken. I hope to have the assistance of my right hon. Friend the Minister for Works and Buildings in this matter.