§ 24. Mr. KELLYasked the Minister of Labour whether steps are being taken to provide more suitable premises for the work of the Employment Exchange at Rochdale?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDA site has been secured and plans prepared for the new building. The work will be commenced as soon as possible, having regard to the other commitments for the current financial year.
§ Mr. KELLYIn view of the difficulty of people having to wait about for hours on end, will the right hon. Gentleman expedite the building of these new premises?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDIt is a question of money—how much money there is, and how fast the work can be gone on with within the limits of expense. The only thing I can say in modification of that is that in so far as times are given for applicants to attend, if they will pay regard to those times, there would not be the same need to wait about as so often occurs.
§ Mr. KELLYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that all the circumstances are not met under the conditions such as he suggests, and people are kept there even with the conditions attached?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI quite agree, and I want to get rid of that, but I think the waiting need not be as long as it is at the present time.