§ 16. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked whether local distress committees are being given 269 any directions to find remunerative employment, where possible, for persons who are out of employment or otherwise in want in preference to giving them monetary relief; and whether any public money will be available by way of loan to such committees, to local authorities, or others during the continuance of the War for the promotion of reproductive commercial enterprise?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Herbert Samuel)It has been repeatedly pointed out in the circulars of the Local Government Board, and I would desire again to emphasise it, that the primary duty of these committees is to see that workpeople, so far as possible, are continued in employment at their usual trades, at full time where that can be arranged, and otherwise on short time. With that end m view, ail local authorities, public corporations, companies, and individuals should be urged to put in hand all kinds of work of a useful character which would give employment to men and women belonging to trades in which the supply of labour exceeds the demand. Where employment cannot be offered to workpeople at their own trades, arrangements should be made, where opportunity offers, to transfer them, with the assistance of the Labour Exchanges, to work in other trades for which they may be suitable. Government loans will be available for many kinds of work undertaken by local authorities. In districts where a surplus of labour still remains it will be necessary to begin special undertakings with a view to paying wages for work done. It is only in cases where all these measures are inadequate, or where the class of labour affected is not such as can be properly employed on the work available, that recourse should be had to the distribution of relief. I would add that it has been decided by the Committee of the National Relief Fund that no grants, other than grants for the families of soldiers and sailors, shall be made from that fund except on the recommendation of the Government Committee on the Prevention and Relief of Distress. Applications for grants, when they become necessary, should therefore be made direct to the secretary of the Government Committee at the Local Government 270 Board. Grants will only be recommended when that Committee is satisfied that adequate arrangements have been made for the control of their distribution. A large staff of inspectors has been organised with a view to assisting the Committee in its efforts to prevent the occurrence of abuses of administration which have too often attended the distribution of previous funds. The Government Committee undertakes that every practicable measure shall be taken to ensure that the money generously contributed by the subscribers to the fund shall reach those who are in real need, belonging to classes suffering from distress due to the War, and none others.
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINMay I ask whether the Labour Exchanges have been instructed in all eases to give a preference to married men, and whether the same action will be taken through the Government Committee with reference to this fund?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThat question should be addressed to the Board of Trade, which has control of the Labour Exchanges. We are in constant communication with the local committees with regard to the methods of relief, and asking them in each case before a grant is given to state what conditions for relief they propose to impose. We rather suggest that this matter should be considered by the local committees.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSOn a point of Order. Having regard to the length of the answer which has just been given by the right hon. Gentleman I want to ask, in reference to the ruling of the Chair which was given yesterday, whether it would not be possible for you, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, to consider whether questions might not be properly addressed to the right hon. Gentleman in regard to this important fund. He has given a very important answer, and in view of the expression given from the Chair yesterday that we could not put questions affecting this fund—[HON. MEM-BERS: "Order!"]—I am quite in order. I am asking you, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, for guidance as to whether an arrangement cannot be made in these difficult circumstances for a Minister of the Crown to answer questions affecting that fund?
§ Mr. MORRELLMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the money subscribed to that fund is intended primarily for the relief of unemployment or for the relief of the dependants of soldiers and sailors who are serving at the front?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI am not sure that I am entitled to answer that question, but I have reason to believe that the Committee consider it is intended for both purposes.
§ Colonel YATEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in giving relief to the families of men who are unemployed, it will be made a condition that the men unemployed should give service in return by enrolling themselves as special constables?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo, Sir, it is not intended to make that condition.
§ Mr. HOGGEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, so far as Scotland is concerned, applications for grants from the fund will be made to the Scottish Local Government Board, and not here at all?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELA question on that very point is to be put to my right hon. Friend, and he will answer.
§ Mr. GLYN-JONESMay I ask whether there is any means by which a district where there is a large amount of surplus men unemployed can ascertain at once any part of the country where it will be possible for those people to be employed? Is there any way by which that information can be immediately ascertained?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELYes, Sir, the Labour Exchanges exist for that very-purpose.