HC Deb 18 June 1925 vol 185 cc793-5
57. Miss WILKINSON

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is considering any schemes of relief work which can be put in hand before the winter to relieve the long-continued unemployment in the Middlesbrough and Tees Side area which is steadily growing worse; and whether he can make any statement on the position?

Mr. BETTERTON

Schemes of work for the relief of persons unemployed are put in hand by local authorities, with financial assistance from the Government. As stated in the answer given to the hon. Member for West Middlesbrough yesterday, my right hon. Friend hopes shortly to make a statement on the general position. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the schemes promoted by the Middlesbrough Council for the relief of unemployment, in aid of which grants have been made from the Road Fund and by the Unemployment Grants Committee.

Miss WILKINSON

Has the hon. Gentleman recently received a further communication with regard to the Tees Dock Scheme, and is it not a fact that that work can only be done by Government assistance?

Mr. BETTERTON

I must ask the hon. Member to give me notice of that question.

Mr. W. THORNE

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there are 260,000 people more out of employment this week than there were last year at this time; and is he prepared to have a conversation with the Prime Minister to see if there is any possibility of making a wholesale reduction in that number in various parts of the country?

Mr. T. THOMSON

May I ask the hon. Gentleman if he is aware that the Middlesbrough Road Authority have decided that they cannot put any more schemes in hand unless they have increased financial assistance, and will he give careful consideration to this question?

Mr. BETTERTON

I am aware of that, but I hope that their decision on that question is not final.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir JOSEPH NALL

Is it not a fact that the dock accommodation on the East Coast is already more-than is necessary to meet the requirements?

Mr. BETTERTON

I cannot answer that question.

Following is the list referred to:

Schemes assisted from Road Fund. Estimated Cost. Grant.
£ £
1. New road construction … … … … 21,580 10,790
Martin Road to Ormsby Road … … … … 70,115 35,057
*2. North Ormsby Road—Widening … … … … 4,168 2,084
3. Newport Road … … … … 16,416 8,208
4. Middlesbrough—Saltburn Road … … … … 28,799 14,399
5. Middlesbrough—Redcar Road. Section from Normanby Road to Middlesbrough County Borough Boundary. 33,582 16,791
6. West Auckland Road—Widening … … … … 2,990 1,495
7. Oxbridge Avenue—Extension … … … … 12,781 6,390
* All in progress except No. 2.

SCHEMES ASSISTED BY THE UNEMPLOYMENT GRANTS COMMITTEE (WINTER 1924–1925).
Work. Cost in respect of which grant was allowed. Rate of grant.
£
Reconstructing carriageway, Cannon Street and Denmark Street. 7,550 75% of the interest and sinking fund charges for a period of 10 years.
Conversion of privies 5,198 75% of the interest and sinking fund charges for a period of 15 years.
Laying tramway, Newport Road 14,947 50% of the interest charges for a period of 15 years.
Laying sewers, Cannon Street, New-port Road, etc. 92,000 75% of the interest and sinking fund charges for a period of 15 years.
Reconstructing carriageways of 19 streets. 42,013 75% of the interest and sinking fund charges for a period of half the term of the loan or 15 years whichever is the less.
Laying sewers, Thornfield and Harrow Roads. 1,564 75% of the interest and sinking fund charges for a period of 15 years.
Laying tramway, North Ormsby Road. 4,588 50% of the interest charges for a period of 15 years.
Widening Linthorpe Crescent 3,410 75% of the interest and sinking fund charges for a period of 10 years (works)—15 years (land).
Constructing tennis court, bowling green, putting green, etc. 2 310 50% of the interest charges for a period of 15 years.
Paddling pool, Albert Park 1,570 75% of the interest and sinking fund charges for a period of 10 years.
Improving corner of park, Vale Road. 950 75% of the interest and sinking fund charges for a period of half the term of the loan or 15 years whichever is the less.