§ 45. Sir JOHN BUTCHERasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the increasing number of persons in the United Kingdom in receipt of out-of-work donations, he is prepared to announce a policy by which this unproductive expenditure of public money can be checked, and the labour which is now being entirely wasted can be utilised?
§ Mr. PRATT (Lord of the Treasury)I have been asked to answer this question. Unemployment donation is only payable when no suitable work is available for the claimant. It has unfortunately been our experience that, owing to various causes, industry has been slow to start again and consequently opportunities for employment have been restricted. The Government, however, is proceeding as rapidly as possible with schemes which are designed to provide increased employment.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERIs my hon. Friend aware that in a very large number of cases in Great Britain, as well as in Ireland, very grave abuses have arisen, the number of persons in receipt of these out-of-work benefits having increased in the last month from 380,000 to nearly three-quarters of a million?