§ MR. SUMMERBELL (Sunderland)I beg to ask the President of the Local 1469 Government Board whether he is aware that the Erith Urban Council, which received sanction from his Department to raise a loan of £3,000 in order that work might be found for the unemployed in the widening of the Lower Abbey Road, has stopped the work, although the local distress committee has a balance in hand of £600 remaining from the grant of £1,252 received from the Local Government Board; and whether, in view of the distress prevailing in the district through lack of employment, he proposes to take any, and what, action in the matter.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSMy attention has already been drawn to the circumstances of the case referred to in the Question, and I am in communication with the distress committee and the urban district council on the subject.
§ MR. ROWLANDS (Kent, Dartford)asked as to the exact legal position of the urban council in suspending the works.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI have been in communication with the local authority. So far as I am concerned, my power is very limited, but I sincerely trust the local authority will get out of the difficulty as soon as possible.
§ MR. ROWLANDSBut is there no power to insist on their spending the balance of the grant?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSThe grant to the distress committee was conditional on the authority adding to it. That authority without consulting the Local Government Board have suspended the work. If I can see my way out of the difficulty to secure that the money is spent I shall adopt the course.