§ 12. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Lord Privy Seal the number of men at present employed on schemes of work sanctioned by the Unemployment Grants Committee for the relief of unemployment in Liverpool?
Mr. THOMASThere are at present 479 men directly employed on schemes of work in Liverpool approved for grant by the Unemployment Grants Committee. I am informed that 10 approved schemes have not yet started but will be commenced at an early date, and four schemes have been completed or are in abeyance.
§ 13. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Lord Privy Seal whether any further schemes have been submitted by the Liverpool City Council since 11th March for the relief of unemployment; and, in view of the number of unemployed in Liverpool, if he will urge upon the Liverpool City Council the necessity of their submitting further and larger schemes?
Mr. THOMASSince the 11th March, 1930, the Liverpool City Council have submitted three further schemes estimated to cost £80,787 to the Unemployment Grants Committee for grants towards works for the relief of unemployment. In addition two further road schemes estimated to cost about £18,000 have been submitted to the Ministry of Transport. I trust that the city council are fully aware of the desire of His Majesty's Government that local authorities should take the utmost advantage of the facilities offered by way of grant for assisting to relieve unemployment.
§ Mr. HALL-CAINEDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that the Liverpool City Council are giving him all the assistance which they might give, in view of the unemployment in Liverpool, and also in view of the fact that Liverpool is one of the wealthiest and one of the lowest-rated of the large cities in the country?
Earl WINTERTONOn a point of Order. Has it not constantly been held that this House has no control over what a municipality does, and that whether the Liverpool City Council is or is not helping the right hon. Gentleman the Lord Privy Seal, is a matter for that council and not for this House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is a rather delicate question. These are very big schemes which are being considered by the Lord Privy Seal, and it is very difficult to lay down a hard-and-fast rule.