61. Mr. EDMUND HARVEYasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can make a statement as to the action taken by his Department in recent years to promote the adjustment of public works undertaken by local authorities, so as to regularise the demand for labour in recurring periods of good and bad trade?
§ Mr. HERBERT LEWISAlthough the Local Government Board have in times of exceptional distress from want of employment issued circulars to local authorities to urge the putting in hand of public works, and have on various occasions emphasised the desirability of regularising employment as far as possible, they have not taken direct and formal action of the kind contemplated in the question. The practicability of adjusting public works to the varying conditions of the labour market will be examined by the Committee which, as my hon. Friend is aware, the Government are appointing.