UNEMPLOYED AT GLASGOW. (Hansard, 8 July 1908)

§ MR. BARNES
reminded the House that on two separate occasions the Prime Minister had held out the hope that part of the time that night would be available for the discussion of the question of the unemployed at Glasgow. That was a matter of considerable importance to the people of Scotland, and to the people of Glasgow especially. He thought he and his friends who represented that city had fair ground to complain that a portion of the time which had been given to the discussion of fisheries had not been given to the discussion of the question of the unemployed. The Secretary for Scotland did not get up to reply until twelve minutes to eleven, and he spoke up to eleven o'clock. He did not know what other opportunity would be given for the discussion of the question of the unemployed, but there were 1783 ways and means by which a reasonable amount of time might be found for the discussion of the subject. He suggested that the opportunity might be found on the Report stage of some Scottish Vote. He hoped the Patronage Secretary would put the matter before the Prime Minister, and that he would remind the right hon. Gentleman that the request made by him in this matter had not been complied with.

§ MR. CLELAND (Glasgow, Bridgeton)
supported the appeal made by his hon. friend. Glasgow was face to face at the present moment with an acute problem. As time had not been found for the discussion of the subject that night, he hoped the Government would afford another opportunity for its being brought before the House. It was a question which affected over 1,000,000 people in Scotland at present.

§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, College)
said the promise given by the Prime Minister that there would be an opportunity for the discussion of the unemployed question that night had not been fulfilled on account of the action of the Secretary for Scotland in delaying so long his reply on the fisheries question. He hoped another opportunity for discussion would be found.

§ MR. C. E. PRICE,
while admitting the importance of the discussion which had taken place on the fisheries question, regretted that the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary for Scotland did not speak earlier, in order that time might have been available for the discussion of the question of the unemployed. He thought it was a very great pity that when the Scottish 1784 Estimates came before the House the debates should be confined to one or two questions, although there were others on which hon. Members desired to speak. He hoped that the Government next year would make arrangements to give two days for the discussion.

§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. J. A. PEASE,) Essex, Saffron Walden
said he would be very glad to convey to the Prime Minister the representations which had been made to him. At the same time, perhaps he might be allowed to say that there was some difficulty in getting even the half-day which the Scottish Members wished at this stage of the session. The Government recognised the importance of the question which hon. Members desired to raise, and although the Prime Minister did not pledge himself that there would be an opportunity to discuss the question, they were anxious that an opportunity might be afforded for, at any rate, a short debate.

§ MR. MITCHELL-THOMSON (Lanarkshire, N. W.)
said that if what had happened that night was the Government's idea of giving an opportunity for debate it appeared to him that they had acted with singular maladroitness. He hoped that the Government would respond to the appeal which had been made for another opportunity to discuss the question. This was only another instance of the way in which the business of the House was conducted, or rather mismanaged by the Government.