HC Deb 04 June 1942 vol 380 c833W
Mr. A. Edwards

asked the Minister of Labour why men trained on the maintenance and repair of Rolls Royce and other aeroplane engines and released by the Royal Air Force to help in the speeding-up of production were allowed to be occupied on unskilled work as in the case of which he has been notified?

Mr. Bevin

As stated in my reply to the Question which the Hon. Member asked on 21st May, it has not always been possible to place all the fitters released temporarily from the Royal Air Force in industrial vacancies in which their training would be completely utilised. At the firm to which the hon. Member refers 60 of these men were engaged. Practically all were placed on skilled and semiskilled work, but a small number were allocated to fill a very urgent demand on unskilled work. Arrangements were made to transfer these men as soon as substitutes could be found. A number have already been transferred to more suitable work with other firms and others are in process of being transferred.