§ Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he and the representations made to the Government by the General Workers Union regarding constructive proposals for absorbing displaced labour and for helping emigration; and what executive action has been taken to deal with the problem of displaced labour by, respectively, his Department and the Governor of Malta.
Mr. Creech JonesThe Government of Malta and I are fully alive to the importance of absorbing displaced labour and helping emigration. As mentioned in my reply on 20th November, to the hon. Member for Westmorland (Mr. Vane) the Malta Government has been working out a programme of building and road works designed to provide employment. I am in consultation with the Admiralty on the question of the rate of Dockyard discharges; and I have taken up, through the appropriate channels, the subject of emigration with the receiving countries, as also with the Ministry of Transport.