HC Deb 31 May 1965 vol 713 cc150-1W
70. Mr. Hayman

asked the Minister of Labour how many men are registered at each employment exchange in Cornwall as seeking work in tin mines; and how many of these at each exchange are unemployed at present.

Mr. Gunter

I regret that this information is not available.

71. Mr. Hayman

asked the Minister of Labour how many men now working in Cornish tin mines are foreigners to whom he has issued work permits; and how many such permits are now current.

Mr. Gunter

Information about the number of foreigners working in Cornish tin mines is not available. Only one permit has been issued during the last four years for a mining engineer and he has now left this employment.

Mr. Hayman

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a paragraph on page 29 of Part I—Volume I of the recent Report on the Economic Survey of the South-West, prepared by Associated Industrial Consultants Limited for the Joint Committee for the Economy of the South West, towards which the Government made a contribution, draws attention to the shortage of skilled labour in the tin mining industry of Cornwall and states that the opening of any new mines could produce difficulties since the mining traditions of the past have been lost and the existing indigenous labour force is very small; and what is his policy in the matter.

Mr. Gunter

I have seen the passage to which the hon. Member has referred. There is at present a shortage of underground labour in this industry and my local officers are discussing with the firms concerned how best it can be met. In the event of new mines being opened the full facilities of my Department would be available to any firm seeking to build up its labour force.

Mr. Hayman

asked the Minister of Labour how many work permits have been granted to foreigners to work in Cornish tin mines in each year since 1946; and how many such permits lapsed because the men had been granted British citizenship.

Mr. Gunter

One permit was issued in 1962 for a foreign worker who has now left the country and no permits have been issued since then. Figures for the earlier years are not available, nor is it known how many foreign workers in Cornish mines may have been granted British citizenship.