§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Labour how many ex-Service men, fit and disabled respectively, are now seeking employment; and what steps are being taken to assist the industry of the country to absorb these men?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe number of ex-Service men claiming out-of-work donation at 4th June was 192,200, of whom about 24,600 were disabled. These figures include about 1,400 merchant seamen, a number of whom are ex-Service men. As regards ex-officers and men of similar educational qualifications
Date. Ex-service men drawing Donation. Registered with the Appointments Department, Ministry of Labour, as requiring employment Other Ranks. Drawing Donation. Date. Officers. 1920. 1920. 2nd January … … 378,000 2nd January … 8,496 8,879 6th February … … 339,000 6th February … 7,598 8,446 5th March … … 274,000 5th March … 7,092 7,985 9th April … … 212,000 1st April … 6,352 7,339 7th May … … 206,650 7th May … 6,076 7,305 4th June … … 192,200 4th June … 5,921 7,395 As regards the absorption of these ex-Service officers and men in civil occupation, my hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware, as regards disabled men, of what has been achieved by the instrumentality of the National Scheme for the Employment of Disabled ex-Service men. I append a Table of Progress respecting that scheme showing the number of firms which have qualified for admission to the King's Roll and the number of disabled ex-Service men they are employing at the dates given.
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Date. No. of Firms on the National Roll. No. of Disabled men already employed by Firms on the National Roll. 1920. February 12th 10,000 88,486 March 4th 12,165 109,557 April 1st 13,669 117,309 April 30th 15,045 127,416 May 7th 15,558 130,530 May 14th 16,012 134,104 May 28th 16,835 139,841 June 4th 16,969 140,759 who are registered with the Appointments Department of the Ministry of Labour, the numbers registered on 4th June as requiring employment are as follows:—
Ex-officers … … … 5,921 Other ranks … … … 7,395 It is not possible to state how many of these are disabled.
The following table shows that there has been since the beginning of this year a steady fall both in the number of ex-Service men drawing donation and in the number of ex-officers and men of similar educational qualifications registered with the Appointments Department, Ministry of Labour, as requiring employment; notwithstanding the de-mobilisation during that period of approximately 20,000 officers and 250,000 I men:—
As regards the absorption of fit ex-Service officers and men, the Appointments Department of the Ministry of Labour is day by day actively engaged upon the duty of finding employment for the 13,000 applicants upon their books. It has, I may say, found posts for 31,500 officers and men of similar educational qualifications. The Employment Exchanges, which are called upon to give preference to ex-Service men, are similarly engaged, and we are at the present time discussing various other aspects of the employment of fit ex-Service men with the several parties concerned, in the hope of materially reducing the outstanding figure of about 167,600 representing the number of fit ex-Service men unemployed at this time.
§ Mr. MILLSasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the allegations made against the trade unions of Great Britain by Field-Marshal Lord Haig at the United Services Institution, he will issue a statement of the whole of 771W the facts, together with the figures of unemployment among ex-Service men?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have read a report of Lord Haig's speech. With the appeal he makes on behalf of his old comrades in the field, I need not say we all of us desire to be associated. At the present time in the United Kingdom there are drawing the Unemployment Donation 195,000 ex-service men; and of that number 24,000 are disabled. At the beginning of the year the corresponding figures were respectively 388,000 and 39,000. These figures, I am glad to say, show improvement which, though good as far as it goes, is by no means good enough; and we are making every endeavour, both as regards the fit men and the disabled men, to do the right thing by those who deserve so well of their country. As regards the absorption of ex-service men in civil employment without training, my hon. Friend can see roughly how the figures have been affected during the last six months. But we really need to continue, and indeed quicken, our efforts on behalf of these men. I am actively engaged at the present time, in consultation with those best able to advise me, as to the best steps to take to secure greater progress.
With regard to the general attitude of the trade unions, as far as it affects the training of disabled men, I am glad to say that many unions have been helpful. But there has been opposition from the local branches and members of some of the unions. I cannot help thinking, and have frequently expressed the view, that where difficulties have been emphasised by local branches of the trade unions, there is a failure to appreciate the indebtedness under which we all rest—trade union members and others—to those on whose behalf Lord Haig appeals. With the help of the trade unions which have given their assistance and encouragement, we have been able to do a great deal, and to reduce the amount of unemployment. We are, as I say, by no means satisfied, and are pursuing the matter day by day, in order that we may find a satisfactory solution to a problem which must, I feel sure, appeal to the conscience of the whole nation.