§ Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that short-time working has been introduced by Fords, Vauxhall and Rootes motor groups and the Pressed Steel Company; what other information he has of short-time working or unemployment, in addition to the workers in these industries; to what extent this unemloyment or short-time working is due to oil and petrol rationing for the industries concerned; and whether he will make a statement of the Government's plans to find alternative employment for those affected.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodYes. The total number of persons registered as wholly unemployed in Great Britain at 12th November was 253,000 and at present about 95,000 workers are estimated to be on short-time. Nearly half of the short-time working is attributed to the restrictions on the supplies of oil and petrol and some 1,500 workers have been declared redundant on this account. The services of my local offices are available to help the redundant workers to find work.