§ Sir R. Gowerasked the Minister of Labour whether he can give any approximate estimate of the number of persons in the building trade whose services have been made available by the imposition of the £100 limit on repair and demolition work in any premises; what proportion of these men so affected are now unemployed; and what special steps are being taken to ensure that they are absorbed into useful employment as they become available?
§ Mr. BevinI have no means of making such an estimate. Such unemployment as exists in the building trades, except that occasioned by stress of weather or personal disabilities, is largely due to lack of balance as between the numbers of men available for certain of the occupations. The whole matter is kept continuously under review by my Department and the Ministry of Works and Buildings