asked the Minister of Labour what action he is taking to prevent unemployment arising in Kingston-upon-Thames as the result of the reduction in work for His Majesty's Government given to the Hawker Aircraft Company.

The normal machinery of the employment exchange service will be available for any workers who may become redundant at the Hawker Aircraft Company if they register for employment.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that when the Government arranged for the move to Lancashire of the Leyland works, an assurance was given that the men rendered redundant would be taken up by the expansion of work at Hawker's? What special action does the right hon. Gentleman contemplate in implementation of that undertaking?

No special action is required in these circumstances. The normal action of the Ministry is to ask the firm to report to the Ministry men who are likely to become redundant, so that we can interview the men before they leave the firm with a view to placing them in other jobs without their losing employment at all.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any report has yet been received from the Commission appointed to consider the defects in the working of the Catering Wages Act; and whether he is proposing to introduce legislation this Session to amend the Act.

asked the Minister of Labour when he expects to receive the report of the inquiry into the workings of the Catering Wages Act.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can yet announce when the inquiry on the working of the Catering Wages Act will report; and whether the findings of the inquiry will be published before the holiday and tourist season opens.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made by the Catering Wages Commission in the inquiry which he has directed them to make into the operation of the Catering Wages Act in the hotel industry; and when he expects to be able to make a further statement to the House.

The Catering Wages Commission are now engaged on the inquiry to which I directed them. While the Commission is proceeding with a due sense of urgency, I am informed by the chairman that there is a great deal of evidence still to be taken and considered, and it is too early to say when the report is likely to be available.

In view of the very great urgency of the matter, as the industry must be ready when the season begins, will not the Minister urgently press the Commission to issue an interim report to remove some of the more objectionable features of the present position?

I can assure the House that the chairman of the Commission is really seized of the urgency of this matter and for other reasons, too, is himself anxious to conclude it as soon as he can. With reference to any interim report, I will direct his attention to that matter and see whether any useful value can come out of it.

Will the Minister say whether, when the Commission has reported to him, he will take every possible step to see that publication is not delayed from the Ministry angle?

Certainly.

In view of the fact that it will take some time to obtain all the evidence, will the right hon. Gentleman urgently consider the question of an interim report, because the catering and hotel industry must know the regulations before the season starts in order that it may cater for the tourist trade this summer? How is it going to do that unless it is able to make its decisions and arrangements at a very early date?

So far as the evidence is concerned, I think that all the evidence which has been asked for has been received. It is not a question of waiting for more evidence but of considering that which is already in. As I have already indicated, we are most anxious to see this matter cleared up and I will approach the Commission to see whether there is any likelihood of any interim report coming out which will be helpful.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the reports of the meeting of the Scottish Travel Association, presided over by an ex-Secretary of State for Scotland, in which strictures are made on the catering wages arrangements in Scotland?

As I have already asked the Commission to investigate these matters, I do not express any opinion myself.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons are registered on the disabled persons register at Gateshead up to the most convenient date; how many have been placed in employment; and how many are being trained for employment.

The number of registered disabled persons at Gateshead on 21st January, 1950, was 2,468, of whom 316 were unemployed, including 62 who were classified as in need of employment under sheltered conditions. One hundred and eighteen registered disabled persons were placed in employment during the quarter ended 31st January, 1950; the number for the year ended 31st January, 1950, was 553. Twenty-one men and 11 women are being trained for skilled trades and 16 men are taking a course of general industrial rehabilitation.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask whether he realises that there is still a sense of frustration among those in this category, and will he do his best in the matter?

Yes, Sir; I realise that there is this sense of frustrating but, on the other hand, a very great deal has been done, and we are pressing on with it.

asked the Minister of Labour the number and percentage of registered disabled persons who are unemployed in Brighton; how these compare with the average for the country; the numbers who are severely disabled and in need of sheltered employment; and the prospects of the establishment of a Remploy factory in Brighton and the light industries mentioned in his reply on 29th March last.

In the Brighton area on 16th January, 1950, there were 629 disabled persons registered as unemployed. This is 11.1 per cent. of the total number of registered disabled persons as compared with an average of 6.6 per cent. for the whole of the country. In addition, 156 disabled persons were classified as unlikely to obtain employment except under sheltered conditions. A Remploy factory is planned for Brighton, but the slowing down of the building programme which I announced to the House on 7th July, 1949, is holding up developments and it will he some time before building begins.

Of the light industries referred to in my answer of 29th March last, one new factory has been completed. Three more are in course of construction, and a fifth is expected to start building shortly.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that last year, when he answered the previous Question, he stated that the conditions in Brighton were exceptional'? The figures he has given today are practicaly the same. Does that mean that things are getting worse everywhere else? Does he further realise that the Remploy factory, which has been promised for a year, will take only 100 people, and that there are something like 1,000 disabled persons unemployed?

I have given the figures of those requiring sheltered employment. So far as a comparison with last year is concerned, it is a fact, an unpleasant fact, that there is a greater percentage of disabled persons unemployed in the holiday resorts than in the other towns. One reason is that the three per cent. quota operates only with firms employing 20 or more workers and in these areas there are not many such firms, I can, however, assure the hon. Member and the House that pressure is still going on to get these other factories established there, 18 of which are already approved, which will employ anything up to 1,200 people.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any idea when they are likely to be completed? It is a year now since he told me that there was about to be work for 1,200.

I can only say that I have given the figures as they will be when the factories are completed, but they take a little time to build.

asked the Minister of Labour when the building of the Remploy Factory at Burnley will be completed; and if he will give an assurance that the necessary plant and machinery has been ordered so that there will he an intake of ex-Service men without delay.

I cannot give a precise date, but the building work will be completed in the very near future. All plant and machinery has been ordered and I hope that most of it will be delivered within the next few weeks.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that an official strike of plumbers employed as gas fitters in Glasgow and South-West Scotland has now been operative for 18 weeks or thereby and is causing great inconvenience to the public; what is the cause of this dispute; and what steps he is taking in the public interest to bring it to an end.

This dispute was concerned with the relationship between the Scottish Gas Board and the Plumbers' Union and with the terms of employment of plumbers employed as gas fitters in Glasgow. A full resumption of work took place on Friday last, 10th March, and I understand that discussions between the parties are taking place this week.