HC Deb 06 May 1925 vol 183 cc932-4
69. Mr. GROVES

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the growing dissatisfaction among the poor people of the County Borough of West Ham in regard to the recent imposition by the West Ham Board of Guardians of a system of relief work equal in financial results only to the amount of relief that the person would otherwise be drawing; that it is, in itself, the duty of the guardians to relieve the poor and prevent destitution and not to promote schemes of work for the sake of work itself; and whether he will instruct the guardians to at once cease these tasks and refer the matter of relief schemes to the Ministry of Labour?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)

I may refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to a question he put on this subject. The arrangements by the West Ham Guardians enable them to set to work a certain number of men who would otherwise merely receive relief without work. My right hon. Friend is not prepared to instruct the guardians in the sense suggested.

Mr. GROVES

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that now the position is that the men merely receive work which will give them wages only equal to the money they would otherwise draw in relief, and can he not so arrange that the work shall be augmented, so that the men may have a full week's work at trade union rates?

Sir K. WOOD

I am not aware of those facts, but if the hon. Member will submit them to me, I will endeavour to give him a reply.

72. Mr. GROVES

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered the effect upon the rent payers and the shopkeepers of West Ham as the result of the high poor rate necessarily levied within this area; and whether he proposes collaboration with the Ministry of Labour respecting the introduction of schemes of work, thereby absorbing the able-bodied and willing workers and reducing the demand for Poor Law purposes?

Sir K. WOOD

My right hon. Friend is well aware of the high rates levied in West Ham. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the circular letter recently issued by the Unemployment Grants Committee, of which I am sending him a copy.