§ 37. Major NATHANasked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in connection with his unemployment scheme, steps are being taken to level slag heaps in the Midland and other areas?
§ 38. Mr. MANDERasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has yet been able to approve the land reclamation scheme of the Midland Association of Local Authorities; and whether he is aware of the local dissatisfaction at the delay?
Mr. THOMASThe Unemployment Grants Committee agreed last summer to the general terms on which they would be prepared to make grants in approved cases for schemes of land reclamation involving 1144 the removal of slag heaps and the filling in of subsidences, but I understand that several of the local authorities have been reluctant to proceed with these schemes owing to the difficulty of financing them entirely out of revenue. After consultation with my right hon. Friends, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister of Labour, a proposal is being submitted to the authorities which will, I hope, go a long way to meet this difficulty without impairing the essential conditions attached in all cases to these special grants on the basis of wages.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEWill the right hon. Gentleman direct his attention to the Jarrow slag heap, which has been an eyesore for the last century?
Mr. THOMASIf this eyesore is known to the local authorities, they ought to have drawn my eyesight to it.
§ Mr. WELLOCKHow long will it be before the right hon. Gentleman expects to give the full information?