§ Mr. W. GRAHAMasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that in the Supplementary Estimates recently submitted to this House a sum of £10,000 was indicated for a new Employment Exchange at Edinburgh; whether it is now stated that this money is for the acquisition of buildings to be used as a divisional office for Scotland, although certain extensions at the existing Employment Exchange at Toll-cross, Edinburgh, are contemplated; whether any portion of the money will be used for the latter purpose; and whether, having regard to the advantage of centralising Government buildings in Edinburgh and the possibility of combining this Government expenditure with municipal effort in providing necessary public improvements in the city, he will undertake, before sites are acquired or buildings erected, to consult the town council of Edinburgh in order to ensure that no opportunity for useful co-operation will be lost?
§ Sir A. MONDI regret that the wording in the Supplementary Estimate is rather ambiguous, but the sum in question is, in fact, required to enable me to acquire premises for the purpose of concentrating the accommodation of the Divisional Office, Edinburgh, and not for a new employment exchange. In order to release the George Street Music Hall, provision will have to be made in the next Estimates for extending the Toll-cross Exchange. In these circumstances the last part of the question does not arise, but my Department, so far as possible, is, of course, always ready to consult with the local authorities on these matters.
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§ Mr. CLYNESasked the Minister of Labour whether, in connection with the Estimate for new buildings, provision is made for dealing with juvenile applicants between the ages of 14 and 18 for employment, having regard to the fact that the Board of Education and local authorities are responsible under the Education (Choice of Employment) Act, 1910, for dealing with juvenile applicants of these ages?
§ Sir R. HORNEI would refer my right hon. Friend to the answer that I gave yesterday to a similar question addressed to me by the hon. and gallant Member for the Moss Side Division of Manchester (Lieut.-Colonel Hurst).
§ Mr. G. W. H. JONESasked the Minister of Labour whether only 26.7 of those who applied during 1919 to labour exchanges in London for employment were placed in employment by such labour exchanges; what is the total cost of the labour exchanges in London for 1919; and how much such total cost works out at per person for whom employment was found in 1919?
§ Sir R. HORNEWith regard to the first part of the question, the answer is in the affirmative; with regard to the other parts of the question, I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to a similar question by the hon. Member on 15th March.