§ 78. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Works why he has terminated the employment of 44 building workers in his Department on the sole ground that they reside beyond a certain distance from their place of employment.
§ Mr. BirchI have recently given three months' notice to 35 building trade workers in London. In each case the employment exchange nearest his home is 14 miles or more from the depot where he works, and he therefore draws regularly an allowance of 27s. or more each week to cover the time and fares spent in coming to work. These allowances were negotiated by the London employers and operatives shortly after the war to ensure the mobility of building workers in London who might be required to move from one urgent job to another at varying distances from their homes. The building workers employed28W by my Department are attached to particular depots which are in effect their permanent places of employment and I do not feel justified in accepting this expenditure indefinitely for men who are not established. I am confident that these men will be able to obtain alternative employment nearer their homes.