§ 13. Mr. OSWALD LEWISasked the Lord Privy Seal what is the sum total of Government expenditure that he has sanctioned by way of grants of all kinds to assist schemes to provide work for the unemployed since 3rd June, 1929; and what is the total increase in the number of unemployed persons during the same period?
Mr. THOMASAs regards the first part of the question, I propose to issue a further statement amplifying the White Paper recently issued, at a convenient date after the re-assembly of the House. As regards the second part of the question, the increase in the number of unemployed persons registered at Employment Exchanges within the period named was 203,575.
§ Mr. LEWISMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman how long he thinks that it is going to take him to solve the unemployment problem at that rate of progress?
§ Mr. VAUGHANDo the Government intend to fix any time limit for grants, and is there any likelihood of an increased percentage of grants in the near future?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of the reply.
§ Mr. THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman receiving co-operation from the local authorities or otherwise in connection with the men who have been transferred from other areas?
§ Mr. VAUGHANMay I ask you, Mr. Speaker, if you will kindly allow my question to be answered for the guidance of local authorities?
Mr. LLOYD GEORGEWould it not be possible for the right hon. Gentleman to issue the Paper before the re-assembly of the House, so as to give us an opportunity of examining it?
Mr. THOMASCertainly we will consider that, but the difficulty is that the White Paper issued was limited to schemes under the Development Act. I propose to issue a statement setting out the other particulars.
§ Sir K. WOODIn that same White Paper, will the right hon. Gentleman kindly revise the statements which were made concerning my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition and his pledges with regard to unemployment?
Mr. THOMASI am quite willing, if the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition puts a question to me, to answer it.
§ Mr. ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELWill the right hon. Gentleman say in his White Paper how he justifies the statement which he made in his speech last week that there is a loss from £2,000,000 to £8,000,000 in overseas trade by the disuse of 22 trade Commissioners?
§ Mr. VAUGHANMay I have my question answered?
Mr. THOMASThe question was: Is there a time limit? No. We do all that we can to encourage local authorities to send in their schemes. With regard to the latter part of the question, I cannot conceive of any circumstances that will warrant an alteration in the terms. It is true that certain municipalities are hanging back with a view to that, and it is fair that they should know that I do not contemplate altering the terms.
§ 15. Mr. SMITHERSasked the Lord Privy Seal if he has any additional statement to make since the publication of Command Paper 3449?
Mr. THOMASI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to-day to the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. O. Lewis).
§ Mr. SMITHERSCannot the Lord Privy Seal really tell the country in round figures what is the sum total in- 2086 volved in all his schemes, for it is very important; further, is it not a fact that it is the duty of this House to keep a careful watch on public expenditure?
Mr. THOMASI know that it is the duty of the House to keep a watch on public expenditure, and I have indicated that repeatedly. With regard to the other part of the question, I would welcome being able to do it, but the House must know that no Government Department could possibly have at its disposal the precise day or the number of men employed by all the authorities in the country. It is impossible to get that figure.