§ 50. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the privation and destitution prevailing in parts of the British coalfields owing to the more stringent Regulations respecting the right to unemployment pay and the refusal of adequate relief by some Poor Law authorities, and the consequent rise in the death rate amongst adults and the abnormal increase in the death rate per 1,000 births of babies; and whether, in view of the fact that the House has had no time to pass the necessary legislation for alleviating the prevailing suffering, he will refrain from advising His Majesty to prorogue Parliament, but instead will ask Parliament to reassemble early in January in order that the necessary legislation may 1615 be passed for dealing in an adequate manner with the distress and suffering at present endured by the victims of unemployment?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am aware of the difficulties existing in certain parts of the coalfields and of recent increases in the death-rate in some such areas. But I cannot agree that such increase, which does not seem to be confined to such areas, is to be attributed to the causes assigned for it by the hon. Member. The policy of the Government in respect of unemployment was fully stated and debated in this House on the 26th November.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIs the Prime Minister aware that in one district the figures show an increase of 50 per thousand in the death-rate, and in that district the total relief given to a family of eight children, wife, and man is 32s., and whether he thinks it is decent that that state of things should continue?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have no information on the point.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIn view of the fact that these children are perishing now— the Minister of Health knows perfectly well that these are the official figures—I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he thinks it is a right and proper thing that this House should go away for its holiday knowing that this starvation of children, little tiny babies, is going on in this country?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have no further answer only the one I gave in answer to the original question, and I cannot agree that the increase in that area is attributable to the reasons assigned by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. LANSBURYMight I ask whether he will not inquire from the right hon. Gentleman the Minister of Health, whether it is not a fact that in two districts side by side with one another, in one of them adequate relief is being given and the right hon. Gentleman is trying to stop it, and the children there are not dying and are not being murdered in this fashion, while they are dying and are being murdered by the right hon. Gentleman in the other district?
§ Mr. BARKERrose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERCaptain Benn.
§ Mr. BARKEROn a point of Order. Is it not in order for an hon. Member to ask one supplementary question?