§ Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Minister of Labour what steps have been taken by his Department to compel Messrs. Dessouters, at a factory of which he has been informed, to re-employ Mr. V. G. Jackson, in accordance with the directions of the. National Service officer?
§ Mr. BevinA National Service officer directed Messrs. Dessouter Brothers, Limited, on 26th October, to reinstate Mr. V. G. Jackson in his former employment on 27th October. The firm maintained that they had no work to give Mr. Jackson and complied with the reinstatement direction only to the extent of paying him his wages. Action was therefore taken in accordance with the procedure outlined in the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for West Willesden (Mr. Viant) on 10th June, 1943, and another worker was withdrawn from the firm to enable them to provide work for Mr. Jackson. The firm were given a further direction on 9th November to reinstate Mr. Jackson on 11th November. I understand that they have not complied with this direction. I regard this as symptomatic of their general attitude towards their obligations under the Essential Work Order and, without prejudice to any other action I may decide to take in the matter, I propose to cancel their certificate of scheduling under the394W Essential Work (General Provisions) (No. 2) Order, 1942.