HC Deb 24 March 1926 vol 193 cc1197-9
17. Colonel DAY

asked the Minister of Labour whether any offers of training facilities have been made to the disabled ex-service men unemployed in the borough of Southwark; and what facilities exist for the transfer of ex-service men from Southwark to the training establishments in the provinces under the administration of his Department?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I assume that the hon. Member refers to training of disabled ex-service men under the industrial training scheme. This scheme was closed to ordinary applications on 30th September, 1921, but in individual cases of hardship applications are still considered on merits. Free travelling facilities to the training centre are provided for disabled ex-service men accepted for training under the scheme.

Mr. JOHNSTON

Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to warn any of these ex-service men who leave their homes for his training centres, that if they should be unfortunate enough to die on his hands and if their mates take up a collection, the right hon. Gentleman's Department will appropriate that collection in order to pay the burial expenses?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I have not any information which would make me agree to give such a warning. If the hon. Member has any case in his mind, perhaps he will communicate with me.

Mr. JOHNSTON

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this morning he sent me a letter justifying such a case at Kirkcaldy?

Mr. PALING

What does the right hon. Gentleman mean by "ordinary application"? Is it not a fact that there are thousands of these applications coming in still each year, which are being turned down?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I am not aware that there are thousands coming in each year, but when everybody has had ample notice to send in applications, of course a time limit of sonic kind has to be imposed. That was imposed long before the time when I became responsible for the Department and was accepted by each successive Minister, but occasionally peculiar cases, presenting particular features, arise, and therefore this power of discretion to waive the rule is given.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

Did not the right hon. Gentleman's Department estimate last year for at least a 50 per cent. reduction in these cases?