§ 34. Mr. GLANVILLEasked the Prime Minister what measures the Government will bring forward for dealing with unemployment among skilled craftsmen, clerks, and ex-officers?
§ 64. Major ENTWISTLEasked the Lord Privy Seal what measures the Government will bring forward to deal with unemployment among those who are incapable of heavy and laborious work?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Dr. Macnamara)I have been asked to reply to these questions. My hon. Friends will be aware that the question of unemployment is under consideration by a committee of the Cabinet. Various suggestions have been received and have been submitted to the Cabinet Committee. With regard to ex-officers, special efforts are being made by the Appointments Department to deal with this question. Ex- 40 officers are still being placed in training. The total number of ex-officers and men of similar qualifications placed by the Appointments Department is 43,317. Under the Maintenance and Training Grants Scheme, upwards of 55,000 grants have been made to ex-officers and men of similar qualifications. This figure includes the grants made by all Departments concerned in administering the scheme.
§ Viscount CURZONAs many of these ex-officers have no other employment offered to them than enlisting in the Black and Tans, cannot anything be done for them?
§ Mr. DEVLINOh, something ought to be done for them.
§ Mr. G. TERRELLHas the Committee which is investigating this matter had under consideration the desirability of checking imports?
§ 49. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Prime Minister whether the Government are going to introduce a Bill to shorten and simplify the acquisition of land for the new roads that are to be made under the scheme of providing work for the unemployed; if he is aware that it is of vital importance that enough land should be taken for such new roads, so that the new building frontage may be public property; and if he can state whether the Government have considered the advisability of promoting national schemes of land reclamation and afforestation on public land as productive work to relieve the unemployed difficulty at the present time?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is proposed to introduce a Bill which will shorten and simplify the procedure at present available for the acquisition of land for the construction of new roads for providing work for the unemployed. The Bill is being drafted, and the lines at present are to adopt the provisions now applicable to the acquisition of land for housing. Proposals of the kind suggested are among those being considered by the Cabinet Committee on Unemployment. In regard to afforestation, the Forestry Commission is planting between 5,000 and 6,000 acres during the coming winter.
§ Mr. THORNEHas not the right hon. Gentleman omitted to answer one point in my question, namely, whether the 41 Government have considered the advisability of promoting national schemes of land reclamation?
§ 51. Lieut.-Colonel CROFTasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the continuous unrest in industry and resultant unemployment, he is prepared to give a day for full consideration of a scheme to deal with this subject?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThis question was fully discussed on the 21st October, and the Government are not prepared to give another day for its discussion.