§ Mr. R. Ethertonasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that certain bricklayers and joiners in the Manchester 2005W area have been called for interview by his Department and told that they would at some future date have to transfer their services to one of the large local authorities in the area; when, for what purpose, and under what powers, it is proposed to exercise this power; whether he approves this favouring of local authorities to the prejudice of small firms and local builders; and whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction and alarm which the proposed procedure has caused.
§ Mr. BevinA number of building trade workers in the Manchester area have been interviewed with the object of ascertaining which men will be available for transfer in due course to housing work, which, I understand, will be carried out mainly by private contractors but to some extent by the local authority. No question of favouring the local authority as against private contractors arises.