§ Sir W. SUGDENasked the Minister of Labour if he will issue instructions to his officers in the Hartlepools to reconsider the conditions obtaining as to unemployed dockers being compelled to sign twice daily, and which results in preventing, approximately, 900 dockers in the Hartlepools from seeking employment elsewhere?
§ Mr. BETTERTONAs stated in the reply given on 26th February, dock-workers are in general required to attend twice daily owing to their conditions of employment. Attendance twice daily is660W required at Hartlepool, and at West Hartlepool except on Wednesday and Friday. The times of attendance at the Exchange are arranged so as to follow-closely upon the calls at which the men are engaged and at which they ought to attend if they are seeking work. I have no reason to believe that this requirement prejudices their chances of obtaining employment, but if the hon. Member will give me particulars of what he has in mind in this connection, I shall be glad to look into the matter.