§ 8. Major NATHANasked the Lord Privy Seal whether in connection with the Government's unemployment plans, any and, if so, what steps will be taken to ensure that as regards work in any particular locality the available unemployed in that locality will be given priority as regards employment?
Mr. THOMASExcept in so far as it is a condition of Government assistance that on certain works in the more prosperous areas employment should be given to a proportion of men from the depressed mining areas, the engagement of labour is within the discretion of the undertaking authority concerned, who 1051 should pay due regard to the claims of the local unemployed.
§ Major NATHANWill the right hon. Gentleman consider making it a term of any contract, grant, loan or guarantee that the contractor shall, as far as possible, engage local labour from the local Employment Exchange?
Mr. THOMASThe Government do not make contracts, and it is very difficult in dealing with local authorities to turn round and say that we must control what is their own responsibility. In any case, the local authority ought to have first regard to their own unemployed.
§ Mr. KEDWARDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that miners are being sent from Durham down to Kent, and that it is a condition of the unemployment grant that 50 per cent. of the unemployed are taken from distressed areas, although there are unemployed in the areas to which they are being sent?
Mr. THOMASI have dealt with the question very fully on two occasions in this House. Regard ought to be had to the local unemployment situation, but, if local authorities can help those in the distressed areas, they ought to be encouraged to do so.
§ Mr. KEDWARDDo the Government make it a condition of the giving of a grant that so many men shall be taken from the distressed areas, although the district in question have unemployed of their own?
Mr. THOMASNo; it is not a condition, but additional Government assistance is given where they are taken.