§ 55. Mr. A. T. DAVIESasked the Minister of Labour whether, in the cases of youths over school age and between the ages of 15 and 21 years who are unable to obtain work, the general policy of the Ministry is to withhold all unemployment pay if they have not previously been in employment, and to refer them for their maintenance to their parents; whether the question of advancing to such youths some unemployment allowance has been under consideration; whether there are any insuperable objections to such payments to youths who, through no fault of their own, have not been employed; and whether he will consider the question of some relief, especially as the present policy bears hardly on many parents who themselves are in receipt of unemployment allowances?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThe Unemployment Insurance Acts do not permit of the payment of benefit to youths who have not previously been in employment, and, having regard to the contributory basis of the unemployment insurance scheme, I do not think I should be justified in proposing the legislation which would be necessary before benefit could be paid in such cases.
§ 69. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Minister of Labour how many young persons under the age of 21 were registered as unemployed during the week ending 31st January, 1922, and the week ending 31st October, 1922; and whether, in view of the mental, moral, and physical deterioration such young people must be passing through, he will confer with the Minister of Education as to how best to provide for them suitable facilities for education and recreation?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThe numbers of boys and girls of ages up to 18 on the Live Registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain were 111,138 on 31st January, 1922, and 78,776 on 30th October, 1922. Separate figures cannot be given for those between 18 and 21. The question whether any special steps can be taken for the benefit of unemployed boys and girls is receiving the careful consideration of the Government.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWill not the right hon. Gentleman hurry up the consideration of this question in view of the fact 689 that at each school ending stage another set of boys and girls are tumbled out on to the labour market?
Viscountess ASTORBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, will he consider any money spent on these children not as waste but as national economy?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThe considerations contained in the two supplementary questions are present in my mind, and any money that is devoted to this object will certainly be used to the best possible purpose.
§ Lieut.-Colonel NALLMay I ask what proportion of these young people are girls, and what steps are being taken in view of the shortage of domestic servants?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat; is too large a matter for a supplementary question.