HC Deb 19 December 1947 vol 445 cc457-8W
Sir W. Smithers

asked the Minister of Labour what are the names and addresses of brick firms which have been nominated to receive directed labour or other labour preferences; and on what grounds in each case has this selection been made.

Mr. Isaacs

The list of brickmaking firms entitled to preference in the allocation of labour varies from time to time according to changes in requirements and conditions and is therefore not suitable for publication.

Sir W. Smithers

asked the Minister of Labour what are the names and addresses of brick firms in whose favour an advertisement appeared in the "Liverpool Echo" of 1st September, 1947, issued and paid for by his Ministry, urging operatives to apply for employment in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire; on what grounds this advertisement was inserted at public expense; and why the labour needs of small brick manufacturers in other areas were not similarly and simultaneously dealt with.

Mr. Isaacs

The advertisement in question related to the labour requirements of the following Fletton brickmaking firms, all of whose works are in the vicinity of Bedford and Bletchley:

London Brick Company.

Marston Valley Brick Company.

Eastwoods Flettons Limited.

This was one of a series of advertisements inserted on behalf of various firms engaged in a number of essential industries whose output was at the time below the target level owing to local labour supply difficulties. The advertisements were inserted at public expense because it is one of the functions of the Ministry of Labour and National Service to facilitate the transfer of workers from surplus labour areas—of which the Merseyside is one—to areas in which suitable employment opportunities are available. Consideration was given to the desirability of including some of the smaller brickyards in this advertising campaign, but inquiries revealed that it was only in the Fletton area that the brickyard labour requirements were both large and capable of being met by the importation of workers for whom suitable lodging accommodation could be provided.

Back to