Mr. D. DAVIESasked the Minister of Labour whether the Port Labour Committees appointed during the War are still in existence; and, if so, what are the present functions of these Committees; how many officials are employed in connection therewith; and what is the total of their salaries?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAPort Labour Committees, consisting of representatives of employers and employed, are at present in existence in 41 of the principal ports. Their principal functions are to administer schemes for the registration of dock labour, where such schemes exist, to scrutinise claims to unemptoyment benefit made by dock labourers, and generally to assist the Department in the administration of unemployment insurance for dock labourers. The existence of these Committees does not necessitate the employment of any additional officials, and does not duplicate any work done by other machinery. The secretarial work, which is not heavy, is provided for out of the ordinary staff of the Exchanges. I am unable to give any precise estimate of the cost of this work, but the greater part of it arises in connection with the scrutiny of claims to benefit, and would not be eliminated if these Committees did not exist, as it would then have to be performed by the Local Employment Committees.