§ 29. Mr. LONGDENasked the Lord Privy Seal the reasons for the Government's delay in giving the essential financial guarantees to the constructive work and relief schemes of the Birmingham Corporation; and whether he can give the number of complaints that have reached him since the passing of the Development Bills of delay on the part of his Department?
Mr. THOMASNo scheme of work for the relief of unemployment was submitted by the Birmingham Corporation to the Unemployment Grants Committee prior to the 1st November. During November eight schemes were submitted, estimated to cost£270,000, and of these, the most important, estimated to cost£107,000 was only submitted on the 27th November. The schemes required examination by the Technical Departments, but the Unemployment Grants Committee hope to reach a decision upon some of them at their next meeting, which will be held on Thursday. As regards the second half of the question, if the hon. Member will supply me with particulars of cases where he has information as to delay, I will have them examined.
Mr. ERNEST WINTERTONMay I ask whether it is true that the Unemployment Grants Committee have a staff of only eight mem—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"]