§ Mr. TURNERasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that at firms in the heavy-woollen district qualified workmen are being refused work in textile mills because they are turned 60 years of age; and if he can authorise the Unemployment Exchange managers to appeal to firms generally to give men of character and skill who have attained this age a chance of employment equally with younger men?
§ Mr. SHAWI have made inquiry, and cannot find any evidence that employers in the heavy woollen textile industry are refusing to engage qualified workmen on grounds of age. As is to be expected, the chief factor taken into account in the recruitment of workers is industrial suitability. As regards the suggested action by Exchange managers, it is their duty when dealing with ordinary industrial vacancies to put forward the applicants who appear to be best qualified industrially for the particular vacancy. If my hon. Friend has in mind some particular cases of hardship, and will supply me with the details, I will gladly have them inquired into.