HC Deb 28 May 1906 vol 158 cc71-2
MR. THORNE

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that the Unemployed Workmen's Act of 1905 has made it necessary for the secretaries of the various distress committees to beg on behalf of the unemployed; and whether, seeing that the money received by this voluntary method is inadequate to meet the demands made upon the various dis- tress committees by the thousands of men and women out of employment, the Government intend to bring in a Bill to deal with the unemployed problem, and get it passed before 1907.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS,) Battersea

the Act contemplates that part of the expenses under it will be mot by means of money supplied by voluntary contributions, and I am aware that appeals for these contributions have been made the Government have already intimated their intentions with regard to the Bill referred to.