§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the reports of several distress committees in London to the effect that the regulation that an applicant for work must not have received poor relief within the preceding twelve months operates with great hardship in particular cases, especially when the relief given has been only to the extent of two or three shillings, and perhaps on one occasion only; and whether he will repeal this regulation, so that the distress committees may be free to deal with each case on its merits.
§ MR. PICKERSGILLTo ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the report of the Camberwell Distress Committee that the regulation that the applicant for work must not have received assistance on relief works in two successive years preceding his application presses hardly on those engaged in season trades; and whether, pending more effective provision for those engaged in such trades, he will suspend this regulation.
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) Perhaps I may be allowed to answer together this and the Question which follows it on 706 the Paper. The reports to which my hon. friend refers have been brought under my notice and I have given attention to the points raised in them. As, however, the subject of the unemployed is now under the consideration of the Government, I think it better to defer for the moment giving a decision with regard to them.