§ Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Labour he is aware that there are approximately 900,000 able-bodied men of working age in Great Britain who are employed in private domestic service or are not gainfully occupied in addition to those registered as unemployed; and what steps he is taking to attract these men into industrial employment.
§ Mr. IsaacsNo, Sir, the number of men employed in indoor private domestic service is relatively small. The men not268W gainfully occupied, numbering about 1½million, consist mainly of students, those unfit for employment, men who have retired from employment and those with independent means. I would refer the Member to what is said in the White Paper entitled "Economic Survey for 1947" as regards the distribution of workers. The majority of the outstanding demands for male labour are, however, for heavy work or work requiring certain types of skill and experience which these men in general would not be able to undertake.