72. Mr. W. M. ADAMSONasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the organisation of a volunteer legion at Walsall to supply unemployed workers for relief and public work without payment of wages; whether the Employment Exchange recognises such schemes for provision of work; and if unemployment benefits continue to be paid?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI am aware that proposals of this kind have been put forward, but so far as I know they have not as yet been put into practical effect. If men are engaged in accordance with these proposals it will be for the statutory authorities under the Unemployment Insurance Acts to decide whether unemployment benefit is payable; I cannot say beforehand what the decision would be.
Mr. ADAMSONIs any encouragement being given by the hon. Gentleman's Department to that organisation?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI would rather not say anything one way or the other about this scheme at the present time, because a deputation is corning to the Ministry of Labour on this point, and I do not want to prejudge the question. At the same time, I feel bound to point out that we shall have to consider what effect a scheme of this kind would have when put into operation upon normal wages and labour conditions.
Mr. ADAMSONWould it be possible to give a summary of the decisions arrived at after the deputation?
| Persons on the Registers of the Employment Exchange at Stornoway. | |||||||||
| Date. | Numbers on Registers. | Date. | Numbers on Registers. | ||||||
| 1927. | 1928. | ||||||||
| 3rd October | … | … | … | 1,076 | 1st October | … | … | … | 1,063 |
| 10th October | … | … | … | 661 | 8th October | … | … | … | 915 |
| 17th October | … | … | … | 414 | 10th October | … | … | … | 742 |
| 24th October | … | … | … | 371 | 22nd October | … | … | … | 459 |
| 31st October | … | … | … | 365 | 29th October | … | … | … | 456 |
| 7th November | … | … | … | 364 | 5th November | … | … | … | 433 |
| 14th November | … | … | … | 371 | 12th November | … | … | … | 416 |
| 21st November | … | … | … | 535 | 19th November | … | … | … | 540 |
| 28th November | … | … | … | 950 | 26th November | … | … | … | 1,123 |
| At 22nd October, 1928, all the unemployed insured men on the Registers of the Stornoway Employment Exchange were resident in Ross and Cromarty, and none were resident in Inverness-shire, of which Harris forms a part. |
§ Mr. BETTERTONPerhaps the hon. Member will repeat his question after I have received the deputation.
§ Mr. BETTERTONNo, Sir, I do not understand so. They are coming to discuss the merits or demerits, and the advantages and disadvantages.
§ Mr. PRESTONHas the Parliamentary Secretary had any invitations from the local authorities to discuss this question?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI am nut sure about that. I could not say.