§ 63. Mr. RAFFETYasked the Minister of Labour whether, seeing that there is at the present time acute unemployment amongst operative painters, and that it is possible at once to undertake a good deal of indoor painting, ordinarily left to the spring and summer when there is often a rush of work, he will do his utmost to encourage public authorities and private employers to proceed with indoor painting during the present winter season so as to distribute the work more equally throughout the year?
§ Mr. SHAWThe Unemployment Grants Committee have given grants to public authorities to enable them to undertake, during the winter, indoor painting and other decorative work which ordinarily would not be carried out until the spring or summer. No form of assistance in this connection is, however, available for private employers. I agree that if work of this character could be spread throughout the year, it would be to the advantage of a number of workmen at the moment unemployed, but, as 1736 regards private employers, I do not think I can do more than call attention to the point.
§ Mr. PERCY HARRISIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of the schools, especially in the London district, sadly need painting; and is it possible for him to encourage this work to he undertaken through the London Education Committees?