§ Mr. J. MASONasked the Minister of Munitions whether the Labour Exchanges are the duly authorised medium through which applications for employ- 464W ment on munitions work should be made; and, if so, whether the Labour Exchanges have been instructed to refuse such applications on the ground that an applicant is unskilled?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part of the question, Labour Exchanges are not authorised to refuse any applications for employment, and, in point of fact, out of an average of about 1,640 persons placed in munitions work by the Exchanges every day more than two-thirds are unskilled. My hon. Friend may possibly have in his mind applications made to Labour Exchanges for enrolment as W.M.V.'s. Such enrolment is limited to certain skilled occupations for which there has been for some time an unsatisfied demand.