§ Sir W. Edgeasked the Minister of Labour whether trained hosiery operatives who have been given, or can obtain their release from munitions, can be allowed to go back into the trade if and when they can be absorbed by their previous employers, up to the permitted labour force; and whether this permission can be given immediately.
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe question whether trained hosiery operatives who are released from the munitions work on which they are engaged can go back to their old trade must depend upon the extent to which their services are required for war production of high priority for which the demands are still very heavy at the present time. In these circumstances it is not possible to give the general assurance for which my hon. Friend asks, but the possibility of effecting this return as and when the labour situation permits will be kept in mind.