§ Mr. ARTHUR GREENWOOD(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Health whether he will state what boards of guardians have reduced their scales of out-relief since 1st May, and what boards of guardians are discriminating in their scales of relief between miners' families and others in receipt of relief whether any boards of guardians have ceased to grant either any relief or out-relief to the dependants of those involved in the present coal stoppage; whether he is aware that there is serious distress in many mining areas and what steps he proposes to ensure that Poor Law authorities take adequate steps to deal with this urgent problem?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Mr. Neville Chamberlain)It is not the duty or the practice of boards of guardians to report changes in their administration or any scale of relief which they may use for their guidance, but I have been informed of reductions in scales made since the 1st May in 42 instances. Having regard to the effect of the Merthyr Tydvil Judgment, which excludes relief for the miner himself while on strike, there must be a difference between the relief of miners' families and others to whom relief has been granted, and it is usual, as far as scales of relief are applied, that the scale for a miner's dependants should be higher than that for the dependants of a man who is himself receiving relief as the head of the family. There is no case within my knowledge in which boards of guardians have ceased to grant any relief to the 386 dependants of those involved in the present coal stoppage, but six boards of guardians are reported to have decided that only indoor relief shall be given in these cases. Such a decision is within the discretion of the guardians as far as regards applications considered by them, but nothing can interfere with the duty of a relieving officer to deal as may be required with any case of sudden or urgent necessity. As regards the third part of the question, it is obvious that a dispute of this magnitude and duration must involve hardship and even distress. The hon. Member is aware of the terms of the circular letter which I issued at the commencement of the dispute, and I have no reason to suppose that boards of guardians are not fully discharging their duties in the matter. I am sending the hon. Member lists of the unions referred to in the earlier parts of this reply.
§ Mr. GREENWOODIs it not the case that the rates of relief now being granted to miners' wives and families are in many cases below those normally given and not higher; and in how many cases, where boards of guardians have reduced the rate, has that reduction been compelled by the right hon. Gentleman making it a condition of the granting of loans?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI should expect notice of the last part of the question. I could not answer it straight off. I think in some cases there have been reductions which have reduced the amount of relief given to miners' dependants below what the hon. Member calls the normal scale, that is the scale in operation before the dispute. Whether that is lower than is given in the case of other families I am not in a position to say.
§ Mr. GREENWOODHave any of these 42 boards of guardians reduced their scales voluntarily; and what proportion of them have reduced their scales under pressure from the right hon. Gentleman?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINIf I had notice of that question I might give the hon. Member the exact figures. I am afraid I cannot give them without notice.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSWhere boards of guardians have refused to give relief except inside the institutions, have the 387 right hon. Gentleman's inspectors been sent to ascertain why that decision was reached, in view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman sends his inspectors to boards of guardians who exceed the amount referred to in Circular 1703?
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESIf a board of guardians has decided to give indoor relief only to miners' wives and dependants, is it competent for the relieving officer to give out-door relief against the decision of the board?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINNothing in the instructions of the board can take away from the relieving officer his statutory duty. He is bound to relieve cases of urgent necessity whatever the instructions given him by the board. With regard to the other question, there is certainly one case where I have instructed my inspector to inquire whether the indoor arrangements in the institution are adequate for the purpose.
§ Colonel WEDGWOOD(by Private Notice) asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that the Newcastle-under-Lyme Board of Guardians has decided to stop all out relief in their union, which includes a large number of colliery villages where poverty is extreme; whether he has made any representations to the board on this matter since it was first brought to his notice; whether he is aware that the local workhouse is quite unfitted to cope with the large influx which will ensue; and will he inquire what arrangements arc being made to house satisfactorily the new inmates?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have not yet received a report of the decision taken at yesterday's meeting of the Board of Guardians, when I understand this subject was again under consideration. The form in which relief should be given is a matter within the discretion of the board, and accordingly I have not made any representations to them about it. I am not as yet aware what arrangements may have been made by the Board to provide such institutional relief as may be required, but the general inspector of the district, will be instructed to keep in touch with the board, and to inform Me. of their adequacy.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODCan we be assured that when these people go to the workhouse to get relief, they will not be housed under sheets of corrugated iron and on damp straw, as was the case in another union in South Staffordshire; and can we be assured that this inspector will report publicly on the adequacy of the workhouse, before the right hon. Gentleman finally sanctions this step which is being taken by the board of guardians?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have said I am instructing the general inspector to, visit the institution and satisfy me as to the adequacy of the arrangements which are proposed by the Board. I cannot do more than that at the present time.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIf these conditions are not satisfactory, can we be assured that the right hon. Gentleman will force the board of guardians to make them satisfactory?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI think the right hon. and gallant Gentleman may be sure that I will endeavour to do my duty.
Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSON(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Health whether he has received resolutions from boards of guardians in favour of emergency relief being made a national instead of a local charge and whether the Government are prepared to take the necessary steps to make such an alteration.
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINFifty-seven resolutions to the effect indicated have been received in the Ministry. For reasons sufficiently indicated on other occasions I do not propose to recommend any alteration in the present arrangements.
Mr. THOMSONIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that in certain districts, the cost of emergency relief is putting an appalling burden on the local rates and are not the Government prepared to do anything to help these necessitous areas?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir. I am aware that a, considerable burden is being placed upon the rates in consequence of the industrial stoppage. I have no doubt boards of guardians are keeping that fact in mind.