HC Deb 29 October 1908 vol 195 cc494-5
MR. R. HARCOURT

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has called for reports from local authorities similar to those published in the Second Report of the Select Committe on Distress owing to Want of Employment, dated May 1895; and, if not, whether it is proposed to do so.

MR. JOHN BURNS

I have not thought it necessary to call for reports from all local authorities on the subject of the want of employment in their districts; but my inspectors keep me in touch with the circumstances of various localities.

MR. R. HARCOURT

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform the House how many men previously unemployed are at present actually at work in London, Manchester, and Leeds?

MR. JOHN BURNS

My latest information is that there are 566 in Leeds, 1,400 in Manchester, and 1,900 in London.