Skip to main content

European Volunteer Workers

Volume 437: debated on Thursday 8 May 1947

The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.

46.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of displaced persons now living in camps in Leicestershire and the number that have been placed in employment, with details of the nature of the employment.

A camp was opened last week at Market Harborough in which there are at present 434 European volunteer workers. Eighty-four have been placed in employment with the National Service Hostels Corporation, 25 are being sent today to Lancashire for employment in the cotton industry.

asked the Minister of Labour how many displaced persons have now arrived in this country; what arrangements have been made for their accommodation; in what branche of industry and commerce they will work; and what procedure should be followed by members of the public who have employment to offer them.

By 7th May, 2,700, European volunteer workers had arrived in this country. After passing quickly through transit camps near the ports of arrival, they are accommodated in holding camps where detailed placing in employment is carried out by my officers They will then move to camps, hostels and lodgings near their places of work. European volunteer workers are being specifically recruited to fill vacancies in the essential undermanned industries An agreement has been reached to their employment in the cotton industry and with sections of the woollen industry, in nursing and on domestic work in hospitals, with the National Service Hostels Corporation, and in households specially selected on hardship grounds. Discussions with other essential undermanned industries are proceeding. Applications for the employment of European volunteer workers should be made to the local office of the Ministry of Labour and National Service who will endeavour to supply such a foreign worker if no British labour is available