§ Mr. BLANEasked the Minister of Labour what steps are taken by the Labour Exchanges to transfer unemployed people from areas where it is alleged there is no employment for the unemployed to areas where there is plenty of employment?
§ Sir R. HORNEIt is not practicable within the limits of an answer to describe the somewhat complicated arrangements for keeping touch between an unsatisfied demand for work in one locality and an unsatisfied demand for workpeople in another locality. The hon. Member may, however, rest assured that such arrangements exist as part of the everyday working machinery of the Employment Exchanges. Railway fares at half the ordinary rates are advanced to workpeople travelling to take up work at a distance which has been found for them through the Exchanges. I should add that there are many practical difficulties which to some extent militate against the migration of labour. Among them I may mention the dearth of housing accommodation in many of the places where workpeople are most wanted, and the unwillingness of certain employers to engage workpeople from other localities.