HC Deb 07 March 1923 vol 161 cc476-7
58. Mr. MARDY JONES

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, in connection with a local public works relief scheme for road widening being carried out by the Cowbridge Rural District Council, Glamorgan, part of the work of widening Boverton Bridge under this scheme is being carried out by a local farmer, who employs men and horses otherwise fully employed on his farm, when there are a number of unemployed men in the locality and haulage contractors in the locality who are unemployed or only partially employed; is he aware that farmers and farm workers are not insured under the Unemployment Acts; and will he state whether any con- ditions are made in schemes which were sanctioned by Parliament that work shall be found for the unemployed?

Sir M. BARLOW

I am informed that the contractors executing the scheme on behalf of the local authority have employed a local farmer to carry out a small amount of cartage. This work employs one or two men only, and is a very small portion of the whole scheme, which has provided employment for as many as 60 men.

Mr. JONES

Is it not the fact that the right hon. Gentleman's own policy is to provide work by these schemes for the unemployed, and that these people have work other than this to do, while unemployed people in the locality have nothing to do?