HC Deb 23 April 1929 vol 227 cc713-5
40. Mr. HORE-BELISHA

asked the Minister of Health whether his instruction that able-bodied men must be put upon a full-time task in order to obtain relief is universal throughout the country?

Sir K. WOOD

There are areas, notably the distressed mining areas, in which any complete observance of the Relief Regulation Order, 1911, is impracticable, but compliance with the Regulations has to be made wherever the facilities are available.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

May I ask why, when it has been the practice of certain boards of guardians, including the Devonport Board of Guardians, to give men a certain amount of time off in which to seek work, that privilege is now taken away?

Sir K. WOOD

The hon. Member will recollect that that matter is dealt with in his next question.

41. Mr. HORE-BELISHA

asked the Minister of Health for what reasons his Department has ordered that for an able-bodied man to receive relief in Devonport he must do a full day's work at breaking stones which are used for no purpose whatever; whether he is aware that Devonport men have to walk considerable distances both to and from the stone-breaking site at Prince Rock; and, in view of the fact that his recent instructions will effectively prevent these men from looking for other work, he will reconsider them?

Sir K. WOOD

The Devonport Guardians have facilities for compliance with the Regulations in force. I must, however, point out that the task at present imposed by the guardians does not consist of breaking stones, and that it is for the guardians, if they dislike the sorting and levelling work which they at present require, to submit an alternative. As regards the last two parts of the question, allowances can and indeed should be made in any test work scheme both for walking time, where appreciable distances are involved, and so as to give full opportunity of seeking other work.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

Has the right hon. Gentleman, on the advice of any of his inspectors, suggested to the Devonport Board of Guardians that they might have a test in Devonport itself, and of a different nature from the test which is at present imposed, so that the men, in the first place, should not have to walk long distances, and, in the second place, should not have to break these stones as a test?

Sir K. WOOD

I do not think that the hon. Gentleman has appreciated what I said in my reply. The matter of test work is one for the board of guardians themselves. I have stated that stone-breaking is not the kind of work in operation in Devonport, but that it is another class of work, and, if the guardians themselves want to vary that they should put forward suggestions to that end. As regards the question of walking, and of time for seeking work, that again is a matter for the guardians themselves.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Have general instructions been given throughout the country that reasonable opportunities should be given to men to look for work when they are unemployed and have test work to do?

Sir K. WOOD

That would be a part of every scheme.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

But has the right hon. Gentleman given these instructions, and is he aware of actual cases which I have brought to his notice where men cannot get these opportunities of seeking work?

Sir K. WOOD

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will bring any cases to my notice, I will look into them, but I certainly think that guardians as a whole do that.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA rose

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Mr. SPEAKER

We are getting on extremely slowly with questions.