§ MR. MILDMAY (Devonshire, Totnes)I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether, under his unemployed proposals, there will be any and, if so, what check upon municipal authorities in the exercise of the power to be conferred upon them of engaging the services of the unemployed in substitution for contract labour at the cost of the Exchequer.
§ MR. ASQUITHNo new power will be conferred upon local authorities to engage the services of the unemployed when carrying out works. It will rest with them as at present to determine 1623 to what extent they will make use of unemployed labour. The Parliamentary grant is voted "for contributions in aid of expenses under the Unemployed Workmen Act," and consequently payments from it can only be made to the local bodies under the Act, viz., the Central (Unemployed) Body in London, and distress committees elsewhere. The administration of the grant in England and Wales is controlled by my right hon. friend the President of the Local Government Board, and in making payment from the grant in respect of the deficiency arising from the use of unemployed labour only a reasonable proportion of this deficiency is allowed, but regard is had to the circumstances of each particular case.