HC Deb 12 November 1929 vol 231 cc1745-6W
Mr. O. BALDWIN

asked the Minister of Labour whether she will consider the desirability of insisting upon compulsory registration by all Government con tractors of their vacancies at the employment exchanges?

Mr. SINKINSON

asked the Minister of Labour if she will initiate legislation to make it compulsory on all employers of labour to register at the nearest employment exchange all situations that are vacant and, in the event of failure to comply, make it a punishable offence by the imposition of a fine?

Miss BONDFIELD

It is obviously in the general interest that employers should make full use of the employment ex-changes for the engagement of work people, and it will be my policy to develop the effectiveness of the exchanges as placing agencies in order that both employers and workpeople may have confidence in them for this purpose. Employers are in fact using the Exchanges to an increasing extent and if, as I hope, the system can be developed on a voluntary basis this would be much more satisfactory than to have recourse to compulsion which would be a difficult and contentious matter.