§ 26. Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the Minister of Labour whether, having regard to the importance of the work carried on by allotment associations, he can see his way to grant facilities for such associations to hold their meetings at local Employment Exchanges on occasions when accommodation is not required by associations of employers or workpeople and approved societies?
§ Sir M. BARLOWHaving regard to the limited accommodation available for holding meetings in Employment Exchanges, the use of rooms is, as a rule, allowed only in the case of bodies whose work is more or less directly connected with that of the Ministry of Labour, and I cannot give any general undertaking that these facilities shall be extended to allotment associations. My hon. Friend is, no doubt, familiar with Section 35 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908, by which provision is made for the use of rooms in public elementary schools, free of charge, for the purpose of holding public meetings to discuss any question relating to allotments.
§ Sir K. WOODWill the right hon. Gentleman state that, if accommodation is available in some of these Exchanges, facilities will be afforded, and is he aware that it is not for public meetings that they are desired, but for the ordinary work of these allotment associations?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI am aware of that, but the premises available for Employment Exchanges are, quite rightly, restricted to the requirements of absolute necessity, and it would not be possible to give any general undertaking on the lines indicated.
§ Sir K. WOODDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it better that these rooms should remain vacant rather than be used for allotment associations?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThat assumption is entirely incorrect. The premises that we have are largely used every evening for purposes directly connected with the work of the Ministry of Labour.
§ Sir RICHARD WINFREYHave they the use of these elementary schools free of charge?
§ Sir M. BARLOWYes, Sir, I said so.