§ Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEasked the Minister of Labour how many vacancies have been notified to the Employment Exchanges for bricklayers, carpenters, and painters; whether the trades unions can supply the men required; and, if not, what measures he proposes to take to see that the provision of houses is not delayed by trades union restrictions as to the dilution of labour, which is obviously necessary in the interests of the community?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe vacanies notified to Exchanges and remaining unfilled on 1st April were 6,100 for bricklayers, 5,210 for carpenters, and 1,550 for painters. The supply of labour for the National Housing Programme has been considered by the Resettlement Committee of the Industrial Council for the Building Industry. The Resettlement Committee, after considering the position, reported that in their view " dilution " of labour was not necessary, but recommended that the supply of skilled labour should be augmented by an increase in the number of apprentices and that measures should be taken to secure that employers who are not in the building trade, but who employ building trade labuor, should arrange for a temporary transfer of their building trade workmen during periods of comparative slackness to serve on housing contracts. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Health is in constant consultation with employers and labour organisations in the industry on the subject of the labour requirements for the National Housing Programme. Further, I would remind my hon. Friend that a Committee, representative of the Trades Union Congress Parliamentary Committee, the Confederation of Employers' organisations,48W of ex-service men's associations, and of the Labour Ministry, has been set up and is now considering the re-employment of ex-service men in industry generally.