HC Deb 22 May 1911 vol 26 cc15-6
Mr. LANSBURY

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he was aware that the Central (Unemployed) Body for London had decided to close the women's workrooms during the summer months in consequence of the fact that the Local Government Board declined to grant the £250 needed to keep the rooms open; if he was aware that this was the first year these rooms had been closed since they were opened some years ago; and that, at the present moment, there were 376 women eligible for work in addition to 103 at work, all of whom would be thrown out of employment if the rooms were closed; and if, under these circumstances, he would reconsider his decision in the matter?

Mr. BURNS

I understand that, on the recommendation of the Women's Work Committee, the workrooms referred to will be closed during the month of June. The money voted by Parliament for the purposes of the Unemployed Workmen Act was for the services of the financial year ended 31st March last, and I am not now in a position to make any further payment.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

Has there been any difficulty in disposing of the product of the workrooms?

Mr. BURNS

The hon. Member is probably aware that there has been consider- able difficulty in disposing of the product of the workrooms. £26,000 has been expended, and the sales have realised £8,000, only.

Mr. LANSBURY

Is it not a fact that in previous years the right hon. Gentleman has made a grant for the purposes of the women's workrooms out of the current year in which the money was used; and is there any reason why the same should not be done this year?

Mr. BURNS

I have given £750 of the last instalment of £1,000 asked for. It was never intended that the work should be permanently continuous. The Committee itself states that it is disadvantageous to the women themselves that they should be induced to look upon the relief work as continuous work throughout the year.

Mr. LANSBURY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Secretary to the Central (Unemployed) Body gave a very different answer to a member of that Body? The reply to a question as to what were the reasons for closing the workroom was to this effect: firstly, that it was in response to the wishes of the Local Government Board; that the Board did not think that the Parliamentary grant could be properly applied to the maintenance of the workrooms throughout the whole of the summer months; and, secondly, because the grant of £750 made such action necessary. The Committee would have been able to scrape through on the balance of £250 if it had been granted by the Board.

Mr. BURNS

The hon. Member must read on. Here is the letter addressed to me, signed by the Secretary of the Central (Unemployed) Body:— The Committee also think that the fact of closing the workrooms will to some extent throw the women on their own resources and have the advantage of testing those really desirous of obtaining outside employment as a result of the facilities afforded by the workroom system.

Mr. LANSBURY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the quotation I made is from the answer given to a member of the Central (Unemployed) Body, and that that letter was written after the answer of the Local Government Board?

Mr. BURNS

I think the hon. Member and myself ought not to rely on intermediaries. It is sufficient that we should read the correspondence official between the Secretary and the Local Government Board.