HC Deb 19 December 1966 vol 738 cc204-5W
99 and 100. Mr. Orbach

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what instructions he has issued to local employment exchanges in the Stockport area with regard to the filling of vacancies where an official dispute exists;

(2) how many unemployed people have been sent to fill vacancies in an engineering factory in Stockport where there exists an official dispute;

(3) if he is aware that certain employment exchanges in the Stockport area are departing from the usual policy of not sending unemployed people to firms where there is an official dispute; and what steps he proposes to take so that his officers act in accordance with Government policy.

Mr. Gunter

If my officers have credible information of a trade dispute at a firm, they are instructed to let it be known to any workers who are being told of the firm's vacancies, and to send them forward for the vacancies only if they consent. My officers heard on 5th December, 1966, of a dispute at a Stockport engineering firm and from that date have submitted 14 workers to jobs with the firm. By oversight two of these workers were not told of the dispute. The Employment Exchange Manager has explained the matter and expressed his regret to the workers concerned and to their trade union representative.