§ 39. Mr. WEBBasked the Minister of Health whether he has sanctioned the provision for unemployed men made jointly by the Town Council and Board of Guardians for Salford, under which such men are found partial employment at normal hourly wage rates by the town council as supernumeraries, the guardians recouping the council for their whole cost, while the younger men not so employed the guardians give outdoor relief in return for attendance for two hours daily at educational classes provided by the guardians, leaving the remainder of the 552 day for search for employment; and whether he will take steps to make this example known to other boards of guardians?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have sanctioned at Salford, as in other cases, proposals of the guardians to contribute to the cost of a scheme of work to be provided by the corporation a sum not exceeding the amount which would be saved by the Guardians as the result of the removal of persons from the relief list. I have also sanctioned for an experimental period of six months, a scheme under which young men in receipt of outdoor relief are required to attend classes for a prescribed number of hours. The latter scheme must be regarded as experimental, and it would be premature to press similar schemes on other boards of guardians until experience has been obtained of its successful working. I shall, however, be willing to consider sympathetically any similar applications which may be made to me.