Mr. JOHN RUTHERFORD:

asked the Minister of Labour what is the average length of time taken by his department in arriving at a decision as to the advice to be given to the Home Office whether or not to extend the permit of an alien desiring to take employment in this country?

It is not possible to state any average time. In some cases a decision can be given forthwith, while in others a number of inquiries have to be made and these may take a considerable time.

Mr. RUTHERFORD:

Is my hon. Friend aware that in the case of a firm in Edmonton the delay of the Ministry in coming to a decision was directly responsible for an alien going to another firm, with the result that a number of people could not obtain employment in a factory, though they would have done so had a decision been made more quickly?

I could not accept that explanation. The facts are that the alien in question did not want to go to the firm in the hon. Member's Constituency and left no address so that the firm could not trace him.

Mr. RUTHERFORD:

Is it not a fact that had the delay of his Department not taken place that alien would now be employed by the firm in question and other people would have found employment too?

As a matter of fact, the alien is employed in another part of the country and, as a result of his employment, I understand that 350 British subjects have found work