Building Labour
1.
asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the release of sufficient building labour to deal with the serious position which has arisen in the maintenance, repair and completion of partially-built houses and to enable further houses to be built in areas where there is grave overcrowding?
I have been in communication with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health with regard to the two uncompleted houses to which my hon. Friend referred in a previous Question and am informed that having regard to the substantial amounts of controlled materials that would be required the Ministry of Health would not be prepared to support an application for a licence to enable the houses to be completed. Consequently the question of supplying labour has not arisen in these cases. , With regard to the position generally, I cannot add to the statements already made by my right hon. Friends the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland.
While thanking my right hon. Friend for his answer to my Question two or three weeks ago, may I ask with regard to this Question whether he does not recognise that there is a grave state of affairs arising in certain areas owing to the impossibility of doing anything even in the gravest cases of emergency housing?
I do not think that arises out of this Question. I have been asked to answer in regard to two particular houses.
There is nothing in my Question about two particular houses. That was the Question a fortnight ago. This is a purely general Question on emergency housing, and I must press for a reply.
The question of supplying labour for houses is dealt with after sanction has been given for the houses to be built, and I do not know that I have refused to supply labour where sanction has been given.
I beg to give notice that, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment on the earliest possible day.
Unemployment, Merthyr Tydfil
70.
asked the Minister of Production what immediate steps he proposes to take to provide, in conjunction with other Government Departments, employment for the large numbers of unemployed immobile workers and juveniles in the borough of Merthyr Tydfil?
As I informed the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) on 2nd June, it is the policy of the Government as far as is practicable to place such new production projects as are required in districts where labour is available. In carrying out this policy, the labour available at Merthyr Tydfil and other parts of Wales will not be overlooked.
Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there are in the borough of Merthyr Tydfil suitable buildings available for installations if the Ministry so desired to utilise the labour of these people who are unemployed?
Yes, Sir, but I think my hon. Friend knows there are other factors besides buildings, and every one of them is considered whenever a new project is available for allocation.
Doctors' Panel, Burnley
3.
asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that three local doctors have formed a panel, meeting once a week at the Burnley exmployment exchange, before which workers seeking release from employment for health reasons are compelled to appear; that the National Service officer refuses to accept certificates from the workers' panel doctors; that a perfunctory examination is given for which 2s. 6d. is charged; and whether this practice has his approval?
This arrangement has been made on their initiative by the medical practitioners at Burnley for the convenience of all concerned and does not require my approval except that the use of the employment exchange building has been allowed owing to the absence of other suitable premises. My Department does not compel workers to attend-before this panel, nor does it refuse to consider medical certificates from other doctors.
Do I take it that anyone who refuses to attend this panel will not be refused a release if his medical grounds are satisfactory?
That is so.
Discharged Workers (Reinstatement)
4.
asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the effects of the judgment of a divisional court in Hodge versus Ultra Electric, Limited?
I am informed that this judgment has been interpreted in some quarters as meaning that an employer who has been directed under the Essential Work Order to reinstate a worker is not legally bound to do more than to restore the worker to his pay-roll at the same rate of wages as hitherto, without putting him back on the same work or even giving him any work at all. I am advised that this is a misinterpretation of the judgment and that the employer in such circumstances is bound, if possible, to restore the worker to the position held before his dismissal where he will do the same work on the same terms and conditions. It is only where the employer can show, that this is not possible that mere restoration of wages is a sufficient compliance with the direction. In such a case, moreover, there would be primafacie ground for supposing that there was a redundancy of workers in the establishment, and the course I would normally adopt would be to arrange for a suitable reduction so that work as well as wages might be found for the worker whose reinstatement had been directed.
In a case such as the one referred to is the employer called upon to pay wages during the period from the dismissal to the reinstatement?
Yes, Sir, that is the order.
Is my right hon. Friend taking steps to implement his opinion as to the real significance of this important judgment?
Yes, Sir.
Disabled Persons (Rehabilitation)
5.
asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the resolutions adopted by many local authorities at the instance of the British Limbless Ex-service Men's Association, of which copies have been sent to him, urging early legislation giving effect to the recommendations of the Interdepartmental Committee on the Rehabilitation and Resettlement of Disabled Persons; and whether he is receiving reports from the local authorities and private firms who have undertaken surveys of all work done in their establishments, with a view to the employment of a fair proportion of disabled persons in appropriate jobs?
The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative, and the preparation of legislation is under consideration. In regard to the second part, I have not yet received reports of any surveys of the kind referred to, but I shall be glad to consider any results that are brought to my notice.
Coalmines (Surface Workers)
6.
asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that young men employed on the surface at the Dawdon and Horden pits, in county Durham, are being forced to accept employment underground and that they have expressed a wish to join His Majesty's Forces in preference; and whether he can accede to their request?
I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Burslem (Mr. MacLaren) on 18th March and the reply which my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power gave to the hon. Member for Hemsworth {Mr. G. Griffiths) on 12th May. The particular cases which my hon. Friend has sent to me are being investigated.
Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that this matter is creating considerable resentment in the area affected? Is it not possible to expedite a decision so that these men may not be forced underground but may have the opportunity of joining the Services and perhaps making room for other men who are capable of doing this work to be returned from the Forces?
As I have explained before, this matter is really in the hands of the Ministry of Fuel and Power, and I act as agent in carrying out the order.
Does my right, hon. Friend understand that I have considerable difficulty with the Ministry of Fuel and Power, and is it not possible for him as Minister of Labour and member of the War Cabinet to bring pressure on the Minister of Fuel and Power to do the right thing?
No one appreciates Ministerial difficulties more than I do.
Light Work
7.
asked the Minister of Labour how many men are now registering at the Burnley employment exchange for light work; how many of these have been registering for over two months; and how many are Service men discharged during the present war as physically unfit?
I am having inquiries made and will communicate with my hon. Friend.
Will the Minister bear in mind that many of these men now applying for light work have been discharged from the Army and have no pension? If light work is restricted to women, what outlet is there for ex-Service men?
I am looking into the question.
Professional Men (Substitutes)
8.
asked the Minister of Labour whether if priority substitutes, sent to help professional men, are always selected because they possess knowledge of the type of work they are asked to undertake; and whether, in case experience proves this not to be so, he will consider representations on the subject?
Persons submitted by my local offices to fill vacancies for substitutes are selected, as far as practicable, because of their suitability to perform the work which they will be required to do. In particular, women in the older age groups under the Registration for Employment Order who have had experience in professional offices are specially earmarked for submission to substitute vacancies in comparable work.
Land Workers
9.
asked the Minister of Labour whether he will investigate the circumstances under which an official of his Department announced that adequate labour was now available on the land, especially in view of its serious effect on the recruiting of amateur workers?
The statement made by the official of the Ministry was that there was no suitable agricultural vacancy in the Home Counties for the particular conscientious objector whose case was under consideration and I regret very much that this should have been turned into a statement that there are no agricultural vacancies in those counties, which is of course not the case. I am having the position as regards conscientious objectors in this area investigated.