§ MR. CURRAN (Durham, Jarrow)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether any steps are being taken, or will be taken, to group localities with a population of less than 10,000, in order that a distress committee may be created for the district.
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905, does not admit of the grouping of districts with a view to establishing in the grouped area a distress committee who would be enabled to provide or to contribute towards the provision of work for the unemployed. I am afraid, therefore, that it would not be practicable to give effect to the object which my hon. friend appears to have in view.