HC Deb 21 June 1951 vol 489 cc77-8W
92 and 93. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he has considered making an appeal within a wider radius for women not engaged in industry to enter the pottery industry and take steps to provide transport to enable people to travel between their districts and where they are employed;

(2) what action he has taken, or intends to take, in order to increase the urgently required manpower for the North Staffordshire pottery industry.

Mr. Lee

There has been widespread publicity over the last few years about the needs of the pottery industry for additional workers and there has been a substantial increase in the industry's labour force. The employment exchanges in the area will continue their efforts to recruit workers in the industry, and we shall continue to bring in workers from a distance in so far as they can be accepted and accommodated, but I doubt the usefulness of trying to persuade women to travel long distances daily from surrounding areas where other essential work is generally available for them.