Departmental Advertising

Oral Answers to Questions — Employment – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 18 October 1949.

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Photo of Sir William Darling Sir William Darling , Edinburgh South 12:00, 18 October 1949

asked the Minister of Labour what is the cost of advertising for labour for his Department in 1947, 1948 and 1949.

Photo of Mr George Isaacs Mr George Isaacs , Southwark North

The expenditure incurred by my Department on advertising for labour, including the estimated cost of administrative staff, is approximately as follows: 1947, £7,000; 1948, £9,000; 1949 (January-July), £8,000.

Photo of Sir William Darling Sir William Darling , Edinburgh South

Is the Minister satisfied that a Department which is organised for the provision of labour should itself have to resort to other methods to secure it? Is it not a Department organised to secure its own labour?

Photo of Mr George Isaacs Mr George Isaacs , Southwark North

Yes, Sir; this is indeed part of the organisation. If an employer comes along and wants a certain class of worker and we have not got that class of worker on our registers, we advertise to let the people know that the jobs are going.

Photo of Sir William Darling Sir William Darling , Edinburgh South

May I take it that it is a fact that the daily Press is more useful in securing labour than the Ministry's own Department?

Photo of Mr George Isaacs Mr George Isaacs , Southwark North

Not in the least. The daily Press is often used as an adjunct to my Department.

Photo of Sir William Darling Sir William Darling , Edinburgh South

asked the Minister of Labour why it is necessary for his Department to advertise for females between 15 and 45 when the vacancies of all Ministry of Labour offices and officers are at his disposal for such recruiting of staffs.

Photo of Mr George Isaacs Mr George Isaacs , Southwark North

The advertisements are being issued on behalf of the Treasury and Civil Service Commission. Their purpose is to call the attention of women and girls—whether they are registered at employment exchanges or not—to new opportunities for shorthand-typists and typists to secure permanent posts in the Civil Service in London.

Photo of Sir William Darling Sir William Darling , Edinburgh South

Does not the right hon. Gentleman take a very poor view of his own Department having to engage in advertising for girls to work in his Department when he has the resource of registering them?

Photo of Mr George Isaacs Mr George Isaacs , Southwark North

The answer is the same as that which I have given to a previous Question. We have a number of young people leaving school who do not register at the exchanges; therefore, we advertise to let them know that these jobs are going.

Photo of Mr Daniel Lipson Mr Daniel Lipson , Cheltenham

Is it not a fact that people only apply to the employment exchanges when they are out of work, and that these advertisements are intended for those people who want a better kind of job?

Photo of Mr George Isaacs Mr George Isaacs , Southwark North

I could not put the answer better than the hon. Gentleman has done.