HC Deb 07 February 1895 vol 30 cc209-12
MR. J. H. DALZIEL

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether, in view of the pressing character of the Unemployed Question in London and throughout the country, the Government contemplate taking any action in the matter; whether the Government can see their way to provide for an Official Census of the Unemployed; and, whether they will consent to the appointment of a Committee of experts to consider and report promptly with regard to the practicability of the different schemes that are put forward for dealing with the Unemployed.

SIR W. HARCOURT

The Government have naturally very carefully considered this question and the various schemes from the distressed districts for dealing with that distress which have been put forward, and the Government propose to appoint immediately a Committee of the House to consider the following points (I do not bind myself absolutely to the terms, but these will be the objects of the Inquiry; the terms will be put down, of course, when the Committee is moved for):

  1. "(a) The extent to which distress arising from want of employment prevails;
  2. (b) The powers at present possessed by Local Authorities for dealing with such cases; and,
  3. (c) The steps which ought to be taken, whether by changes in Legislation or Administration, to prevent or mitigate the evils arising therefrom."
That, I hope, will be taken as my answer to that question, and to the following question, which stands in the name of my hon. and learned Friend the Member for North-West Ham.

SIR J. GORST (Cambridge University)

I was going to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether all remedial measures will be hung up until this Select Committee has reported?

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN (Birmingham, W.)

I wish to ask my right hon. Friend whether the scope of the inquiries of this Committee will be extended to the provinces as well as to London?

SIR W. HARCOURT

Certainly, Sir. The object of the inquiries of the Committee is that the House may be satisfied as to the best means that can be adopted to meet the object in view. I may add that the Government have adopted the proposal for a Committee instead of a Royal Commission, because Royal Commissions are generally long in reporting, whereas the action of a Committee is more speedy, and will, I hope, arrive at an early conclusion.

SIR J. GORST

I would ask whether, as the distress is most urgent, the Committee will sitde die in diem?

MR. J. W. BENN (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)

Will the plan formulated by some of the Members for East London be considered by this Committee?

SIR W. HARCOURT

Certainly; one of the objects of the Committee will be to consider that and other plans.

MR. J. G.WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)

Will it also be extended to Scotland?

MR. A. GROVE

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, pending this inquiry, he can see his way to afford some temporary relief for the unemployed?

SIR W. HARCOURT

was understood to say that he could not promise that.

MR. J. BURNS (Battersea)

I wish to ask whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer will consider the advisability, pending the appointment of the Committee and the issuing of their Report, to take steps for repeating the circular which was originally issued by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Birmingham and repeated by the President of the Local Government Board last year?

SIR W. HARCOURT

There is no objection to that.

MR. C. J. DARLING

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, provided the Committee recommend legislation, he will give it precedence over the Bill for the relief of evicted tenants in Ireland?

SIR W. HARCOURT

The hon. and learned Member must see that it would be premature to answer that.

MR. A. C. MORTON

I should like to ask whether the Committee will consider the question of afforestation and the reclamation of slob hands?

SIR W. HARCOURT

We will consider it; but until I have received further information my mind does not see very clearly how afforestation and reclamation of slob hands is going to relieve the distress.

*MR. KEIR-HARDIE (West Ham, S.)

Arising out of this question, and in view of the urgent nature of the present distress, will the Government consider the advisability of supplementing any sums raised in localities by rates, by private subscription for relief of the distress, by contributing a similar amount from the public purse?

SIR W. HARCOURT

I am not in a position to give any answer to that, and I do not think the hon. Member can expect me, at the present moment, to return any definite answer thereto.