§ SIR EDWARD BIRKBECKasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he will give his serious consideration to the advisability of employing workmen, who at the present time are without employment on account of the existing depression, in order to carry out at once the necessary works for the formation of harbours of refuge on the East and North East Coasts of England?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE)It would more properly appertain to my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board to answer a Question relating to the employment of workmen who, unfortunately, are out of employment; but I am very glad to meet the Question after having communicated with my right hon. Friend. And, Sir, what I have to say is that there are many reasons which would prevent me from holding out the expectation desired by the hon. Gentleman—namely, that we would carry out the necessary works for the formation of harbours of refuge on the East and North-East Coasts of England. One among those reasons is that there has been, and there is, aided by the public in a beneficial manner, a large amount of private enterprize in connection with works of that kind; and I am afraid that an announcement such as the Question asks would paralyze that private enterprize, and very possibly lead to the dismissal of a number of persons now employed.