§ MR. SUMMERBELL (Sunderland)To ask the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that there is great distress in the urban district of 87 Southwick-on-Wear, Sunderland, owing to unemployment; and, if so, can he state why the Government, in view of the increased sum of money set apart for work for the unemployed, refuse to make a grant to such areas if the authorities of such areas are prepared to put in operation schemes of work for the relief of the unemployed.
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I am aware that there is a good deal of unemployment at Southwick-on-Wear. The grant at my disposal was voted for contributions in aid of expenses under the Unemployed Workmen Act, and hence I cannot allot payments from it to local authorities other than the authorities under that Act.