§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Lord Advocate whether he has received an application from the Aberdeen Distress Committee for a grant for the employment of unemployed workmen on the dock extension scheme; whether such grant has been promised; whether he is aware that it is proposed to dismiss men now employed on the dock extension in order to employ the unemployed at lower rates of wages in their stead; and whether this has the sanction of his Department?
§ Mr. UREIn response to an application made by the Aberdeen Harbour Commissioners last winter, the Local Government Board for Scotland agreed on 6th January, having regard to the then situation, to works at the harbour being executed by the unemployed through the distress committee, subject to certain conditions. The 217 distress committee did not intimate their acceptance of these conditions, and were informed on the 12th May that the conditional approval had reference to the circumstances existing when it was given, and that the Board could not sanction works to be started at this season. The Board would certainly decline to approve any proposal which would have the effect of displacing ordinary labour, and the Harbour Commissioners state that their scheme would not have this effect. Should the proposal be renewed, the Board will consider it afresh, and with special reference to the point raised by the hon. Member.