HC Deb 01 February 1949 vol 460 cc224-5W
108. Mr. Willis

asked the Minister of Works what steps he has taken to ensure that skilled building trade workers in Scotland are not diverted from house building to more remunerative types of work, by reason of the raising of the limit within which work could be done without a licence from his Department.

Mr. Key

The effect on the labour position in Scotland of the raising of the licensing limit is being watched very carefully. There is no evidence that, over the country as a whole, it has resulted in a diversion of labour from house building. The number of outstanding vacancies for skilled and unskilled men on housing work has, in fact, decreased considerably since July last when the licensing limit was raised.