§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the Minister of Labour if he can state the number of jacket, vest and trouser machinists who are now on the unemployment registers of any of the Employment Exchanges; whether he is aware that one firm alone in the East End is trying to obtain at least 70 such machinists if it can secure them: and whether, when there exist such openings for employment, any of the Employment Exchanges have intimated that the men on their books decline to try this sort of work?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe occupations mentioned by the hon. Member are not separately classified in the statistics collected by my Department. I have, however, made inquiries in the London area and find that only eight men and1604W three women in these occupations are on the registers of Employment Exchanges in that area. So far as I can ascertain, none of the applicants have refused offers of employment. I cannot trace any notification to the Exchanges by any one firm of vacancies for anything like 70 machinists, but I may mention that a shortage of labour of this class is customary at this time of the year.