§ MR. CLYNESI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that nearly 700 names are at present on the Manchester unemployed register; that less than 100 of these are attached to the building trade, and that, with the limitations of the Unemployed Act, the distress committee can find work for only a small number each month; and whether having now declined to propose any Amendment of the Act, notwithstanding that such Amendment was previously promised, he can state that he has other methods to recommend whereby local authorities may better deal with unemploment.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI have seen a statement to the effect that at the end of January last there were 687 persons on the labour register at Manchester. It rests with the distress committee to propose schemes for the provision of work for the unemployed, and in October last I expressed my willingness to consider an application from them for a payment out of the Grant; but it is only recently that I have received any such application.
§ MR. CLYNESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the register of unemployed represents but a very small proportion of the total number unemployed, and that the distress committee, with the present limitation under the law, find it absolutely impossible to provide work for them?
§ MR. BURNSI can only deal with the names on the register. On October 12th I sent a circular to the Manchester Committee offering a grant. On February 25th I received a reply containing a representation as to a certain farm colony, but I asked for details which I believe are being obtained for me.