§ 39. Mr. BROMLEYasked the Minister of Labour if he has received a protest from the Barrow-in-Furness Education Committee against his decision to reduce the amount granted by his Department as financial aid to the unemployment centres in the town for the financial year 1927–28; and if, in view of the work done by these centres in Barrow and the fact that his action will either entail the 1242 loss of this work or an additional ¼d. on the rates of the town, which has but recently made arrangements for a rate increase of 9d. to meet Poor Law needs, he will reconsider his decision with a view to more sympathetic treatment being given?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI have received a letter from the Barrow-in-Furness Education Authority protesting against the reduction of the rate of grant in aid of the Barrow Juvenile Unemployment Centres. In settling the arrangements for centres for the country generally for the year 1927–28 such modifications were made as appeared to assimilate the conditions as nearly as practicable to those which have been in operation during the current year, regard being had to altered industrial conditions. The effect in the case of Barrow was to reduce the rate of grant for 1927–28 from 100 per cent. to 75 per cent., but I trust this will not result in the centre being discontinued.