§ Mr. BAKERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Bristol Docks Committee have undertaken to extend the Avonmouth docks with a view to absorbing a large number of local unemployed men; whether the 1950W right of selection and engagement of the men remains entirely with the contractor, whose decision as to suitability is final; and whether, having regard to the seriousness of the unemployment problem in Bristol, he will see that, as far as possible, suitable labour is recruited locally before any workers are engaged from outside the Bristol area?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI am aware of the scheme referred to. The rights of the contractor when recruiting labour to decide as to the suitability of the men are as stated by my hon. Friend, but the firm have expressed to the local officer of the Ministry of Labour their intention to give the greatest possible measure of priority to local labour before engaging men from outside the area.