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Employment

Volume 435: debated on Thursday 3 April 1947

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Textile Industry

47.

asked the Minister of Labour what increase of labour there has been in the textile industry in the first three months of this year.

Figures are not available for any date later than the end of January, 1947. It is estimated that during that month there was a net increase of 13,000 in the labour force of the textile industries.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what proportion of that 13,000 have been unemployed, or on short time?

Coal Mining (Foreign Workers)

50.

asked the Minister of Labour, how many Poles are now working in the mines.

184 Poles have gone into the coalmining industry. Thirty are in actual employment. One hundred and fifity-four are in their preliminary four weeks' training.

51.

asked the Minister of Labour what plans he has for the engagement of foreign, other than Polish, labour in the mines.

At the present time, as many entrants as the industry can absorb are forthcoming from British applicants and volunteers from the Polish Re-settlement Corps. There is thus no immediate question of the engagement of foreign workers, but with a view to the utilisation of this source if and when circumstances render it desirable, discussions are in progress with the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers.

No, Sir, the answer means what it says:

"at the present time, as many entrants as the industry can absorb. …"

Public Service

52.

asked the Minister of Labour what proportion of the decrease of 80,000 in the number of persons employed in public service prescribed for 1947 by paragraph 128 of Cmd. 7046 had been achieved by the latest convenient date.

Comprehensive figures of the numbers employed in public service are only available at quarterly intervals, and information as to the change that has occurred since the end of December, 1946, is not yet available.

In view of the fact that the last two quarterly returns have shown an increase, can the Minister give us an assurance that the decrease budgeted for in the White Paper is even being attempted?

It would be impossible to give that assurance until I have seen the figures.

Building And Civil Engineering

53.

asked the Minister of Labour what proportion of the increase of 50,000 in the labour force in building and civil engineering prescribed for 1947 in paragraph 128 of Cmd. 7046 had been achieved by the latest convenient date.

An increase of approximately 10,000 occurred in the labour force of the building and civil engineering industry during January. Figures for later months are not yet available.

Dispute, Eccles

55.

asked the Minister of Labour how long it will take to obtain a final decision from the conciliation machinery in the case of the dispute at Messrs. Gardeners, Eccles.

As I stated in the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford (Mr. Austin) on 26th March, I trust that the industry's constitutional machinery will be enabled to operate with the least possible delay. I am, however, not in a position to say how soon a final settlement will be reached.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the extent of this dispute and the fact that 12 men have been dismissed and have been victimised? Is he aware that an influential deputation representing the workers attended on Members of this House, and expressed the opinion that the use of the official machinery might involve a delay of two years in coming to a final decision?

I am not aware of those facts, and I do not accept that there is likely to be that delay. I am a little disappointed that the trade unionists do not go to their trade union for cooperation. It is the action of the men in the shops which is delaying the operation of the machinery, not the trade unions.

Would my right hon. Friend inquire into the facts, and see whether it is not necessary, in view of the possibility of a grave dispute, for this machinery to be overhauled?

That is another question. The trade union concerned is making its application for the machinery to be put into operation, and while the men concerned are taking certain action they are preventing the machinery from coming into operation.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that a rank injustice is being done to these 12 men, and that this is the most flagrant case of victimisation that has yet appeared since the resumption of the industry? As this has been going on since 3rd March, will he not do something to settle it?

Not any more than I have previously said I would do. I am not satisfied that there is a rank injustice. It is not for me to express an opinion, but the fact that there has been so much interference has only delayed a settlement.

Fuel Emergency (Reinstatement)

56.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men have been refused re-employment after the general resumption of work at the end of the fuel crisis in the Manchester area.

I regret I have no information on which I could base a reply to this question.

Government Returns (Labour)

58.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated proportion of the total working population of the country employed otherwise than in Government or local government offices in the execution, compilation and fulfilment of returns and records to meet Government requirements, including Pay As You Earn.

Does the right hon. Gentleman ask the House to believe that his production estimates have been arrived at without taking into account the nonproductive element in the manpower force in industry?

I am not asked for an opinion on the matter, but the fact is that to get this information I should have to communicate with every firm in the country, to ask them what part of their staffs were engaged on this work.

Agricultural Workers (Age)

59.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the present average age of the labour force engaged in the agricultural industry; and what is the annual wastage therefrom.

The average age of the men aged 14–64 insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts in farming, forestry, and market gardening at July, 1946, is estimated to have been approximately 37 years. The corresponding figure for women aged 14–59 years was 28 years. Statistics of annual wastage are not available.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how the average age of farm-workers will be affected if 100,000 young farmworkers arc called up under the new National Service Act?

I would not like to say, without checking the figures, but if the hon. Gentleman will give me notice I will give him the information.

Foreign Workers (Agriculture)

60.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Poles, displaced persons, German prisoners of war, German ex-prisoners of war, Italian prisoners of war and Italian ex-prisoners of war, respectively, are now employed in agriculture; and how many he estimates will be so employed by 1st September, 1947.

No displaced persons, German ex-prisoners of war or Italian prisoners of war are employed in agriculture. The number of Poles so far placed in farming and forestry is approximately 2,600; about 1,400 Italian ex-prisoners of war are employed in the industry, and the present allocation of German prisoners of war is approximately 163,500 I cannot at this stage estimate the numbers in these various classes that will be employed in agriculture by 1st September, 1947.

Does the right hon. Gentleman feel that, on the figures which he has given to us, and his ignorance of the future, it will be possible to implement the assurance of his Parliamentary Secretary that there will be no drop in the labour force in agriculture by the time of the next harvest?

I can implement that. We are quite satisfied that we can supply agriculture with the labour it needs. I must be ignorant of the proportion of the different classes of labour, until I know how many of the main class will be required.

Has the Agricultural Workers Union agreed to the employment of displaced persons on the land?

Can my right hon. Friend say why it is difficult to estimate the number of German prisoners who will be employed on 1st September, since we know that they are being repatriated at a steady rate of 15,000 a month?

I am asked to give estimates of the proportions of several classes. Until I get the information as to which men are German prisoners, I cannot give the other figures, but I can say that we are in a position to supply agriculture with the labour required.

Will my right hon. Friend take into account the question of making arrangements for those prisoners who have gone back to Germany and who wish to return, so that they can take up jobs in agriculture?

If they have been here and gone home again, and there are other people on the Continent willing to come, we shall give them preference.