§ 53. Mr. Carrasked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that it is still necessary to maintain the present number of Government hostels for industrial workers at considerable cost to the taxpayer.
§ Sir W. MoncktonNo. For some time past as opportunity has arisen advantage has been taken to close individual hostels wherever possible. The success of the housing programme makes it less necessary than formerly to provide hostel accommodation for transferred workers in some areas; and I hope that employers themselves will, to an increasing extent, make their own provision for accommodating workers imported into areas where lodgings still cannot be found. In view of the pressing need for economy in Government expenditure I have therefore decided to reduce over the next few months the number of hostels run on my behalf from 50 to about 25.
I should like to take this opportunity of thanking the National Service Hostels Corporation and their staff for their most valuable services. The Corporation is a non-profit making body set up during the war in order to facilitate the manning of essential industry. It has continued, though on a diminishing scale, to assist in overcoming shortages of labour in essential industries by the provision of hostels for imported workers in areas where there is a serious shortage of accommodation.