§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply how many complaints he has recently received of skilled men being retained by firms although such men are not exercising their skill; whether such complaints are becoming more frequent since the operation of the Essential Work Order; and what steps he proposes to take to put an end to employers retaining skilled workers unused for an indefinite period?
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§ Mr. Harold MacmillanIt is hardly practicable to obtain the information asked for in the first part of the Question, since the majority of such complaints are handled within the regional organisation. With regard to the second and third parts of the Question, there is no evidence that cases of surplus skilled labour have been brought to light more frequently since the operation of the Essential Work Order; that Order in no way modifies the right of the Ministry of Labour to transfer such men to suitable work. Constant inspections are carried out by the regional officers of the Ministry of Supply and the Ministry of Labour; and in all cases where firms are shown to be retaining skilled labour surplus to requirements, steps are being taken to transfer such labour to work of national importance.