HC Deb 02 December 1926 vol 200 cc1344-6
42. Mr. T. WILLIAMS

asked the Minister of Health how many boards of guardians have granted special relief to miners' families during the mining dispute on loan; how many boards have granted this special relief in the ordinary way not to be repaid by the miners directly; and the amounts in in both cases?

The MINISTER of HEALTH (Mr. Neville Chamberlain)

I regret that I am unable to give the information sought in the first two parts of this question. A board of guardians is not required to report to me the decision that relief shall or shall not be given on loan. As regards the last part of the question, it is estimated that the cost of out-door relief from 1st May to the end of November will have exceeded by £6,568,000 the cost which would have been incurred if the rate of expenditure during last April had remained constant in the principal coal-mining unions. I regret that I am unable to give any more precise estimate of the cost of relief of the miners' families.

Mr. WILLIAMS

If I repeat the question, will it be possible to obtain the information asked for in the first two parts?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

It would only be possible by writing round to every hoard of guardians in the country.

Mr. BATEY

Does the £6,000,000 include the amount given to miners on loan?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

Yes, I think it would include that.

Mr. MARDY JONES

Has the right hon. Gentleman any personal knowledge, approximately, of the proportion of this £6,500,000 which is liable to be recovered as loan, and how much is direct relief and not recoverable?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I could not give an answer off-hand, but if the hon. Member will put down a question, I will endeavour to answer it.

37. Mr. FORREST

asked the Minister of Health the extent to which participants in the coal dispute have been relieved by the general public in the form of rates?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

It is estimated that for the period from the 1st May to the 27th November the expenditure of the boards of guardians of 78 unions, which include over 80 per cent. of the miners in England and Wales, has exceeded the expenditure which would have been incurred if there had been no change in the April rate of expenditure by £6,568,000.