§ 21. Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the Lord Privy Seal whether the Government has any new measures or plans for reducing unemployment?
§ The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Mr. J. H. Thomas)I am continuing steadily to expand and develop the policy I have already explained to the House. In particular, the policy of aiding and encouraging the revival of industry, especially the export trades, is being actively pursued, and in this connection I have recently been able to make an 16 authoritative pronouncement upon the relations between the City and industry which makes it plain that proposals put forward for assisting the reorganisation of industry on sound lines will receive the sympathetic consideration and the cooperation of the City in working out plans and finding the necessary finance.
§ Sir K. WOODDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to give any further details, particularly in relation to his statement at Manchester with reference, for instance, to the City and industry and matters of that kind?
§ Mr. THOMASCertainly, at the most convenient opportunity; but the House will appreciate that, when negotiations are going on affecting the reorganisation of certain industries, for the purpose of which millions of pounds have to be found, it would be undesirable and unwise on my part to make such announcements, because the firms concerned would resent them more than anyone else. At the first convenient opportunity, however, I shall be delighted to elaborate my views.
§ Sir K. WOODWould the right hon. Gentleman in the interval, because an opportunity may not occur for a week or two, issue a White Paper or give further particulars, so that those engaged in the industries concerned may know exactly what it is proposed to do and take their course accordingly?
§ Mr. THOMASThe issue of a White Paper is entirely unnecessary fur the purpose that the right hon. Gentleman suggests. There are already thousands of schemes and applications. The difficulty is not that people do not know, but to separate the wheat from the chaff.
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUELWill the right hon. Gentleman do us the favour of explaining here and now what he means by the word "City"?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt would take too long to answer that question.
§ 23. Mr. ALBERYasked the Lord Privy Seal the total amount of money spent on unemployment schemes since he assumed office, and the estimated number of people who have thereby received employment?
§ 25. Mr. HANNONasked the Lord Privy Seal the amount of the guarantees 17 which have been approved under the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act, 1929, for undertakings which will provide additional employment in the case of municipalities and public utility companies, respectively; and the numbers now employed on projects which have been brought into operation during the latter half of 1928?
§ 27 and 28. Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the Lord Privy Seal (1) the value of the schemes sanctioned by the Unemployment Grants Committee since 28th November, 1929; the amount of Government guarantees on their account; and the estimated number of man-months of employment to be provided by these schemes during the current year;
(2), what is the value of schemes approved under the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act, 1929, since 29th November, 1929, the value of Government grants on their account, and the estimated number of man-months of employment they will provide during the coming year in Great Britain?
§ 33. Mr. REMERasked the Lord Privy Seal how many schemes have been approved by the Unemployment Grants Committee since the House adjourned; and how many men and women it is estimated will be employed under these schemes?
§ 36. Mr. WELLSasked the Lord Privy Seal the total amount of expenditure sanctioned by him for providing work for the unemployed, both in grants to local authorities and grants for other schemes, up to 31st December, 1929?
§ 38. Mr. MILLSasked the Lord Privy Seal how many local authorities, county councils, or corporations have submitted schemes for internal improvements; and, with a view to easing the local problem of unemployment, how many have been examined and how many have been approved?
§ 20. Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEasked the Lord Privy Seal how many people are at work as a result of the new schemes put forward since the present Government came into office?
§ Mr. THOMASWhile it is not convenient within the limits of a Parliamentary answer to give the information asked for hon. Members are clearly en- 18 titled to it, and, as stated on the 24th December, I propose to issue very shortly a further statement amplifying the White Paper recently issued.
§ Mr. ALBERYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that only two figures are asked for in my question; and, further, that during the last Session I put a similar question to him week by week and never got a reply?
§ Mr. THOMASI do not know about the latter part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, but, if he will look at the whole of the questions to which I have referred in one answer, he will see that they all ask for information which it is difficult to give by question and answer. As I have said, I will deal with it in a further statement.
§ Sir HERBERT SAMUELWhen the right hon. Gentleman presents his White Paper, will he take pains to show how much of the employment is fresh employment, and how much is only in replacement of schemes which are terminating?
§ Mr. THOMASI do not know that that will be possible, but I will endeavour to do it. I have in my mind a dock which is being finished now. A new contract has been given, probably to the same contractor, but the Government cannot say, "You must employ certain men." It may easily be that some of those who are now finishing will get new work, but the Government cannot particularise.
Viscountess ASTORWould the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether any of these schemes are going to deal with the thousands of unemployed women in the country?
§ Mr. THOMASOnly in so far as they are related to the general unemployment problem; but the Ministry of Labour, as the Noble Lady will know, is considering the question of special schemes of training for women.
Viscountess ASTORIn regard to special schemes of training for women, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the fact that the late Government did that, but that we were always pressing them to do more; and will he take a step forward, and not backwards?
§ Mr. THOMASIt is a very modest request to make to ask us to do more than they did. I think that that would be easy.
Viscountess ASTORMay I remind the right hon. Gentleman that the present Government, although they have been in office for seven months, have done less than the last Government did in this matter?
§ Major ELLIOTWill the right hon. Gentleman take an opportunity of making some statement during the forthcoming Debate when the Government will be asking for many more millions of pounds for the relief of unemployment?
§ Mr. THOMASI have to meet a number of deputations, and, although it would be a disappointment to me to miss the hon. and gallant Gentleman's speech, and I shall be here if I can, it is only fair to say that it may not be possible. The hon. and gallant Gentleman gave me notice of the questions that he is going to raise, and someone will be here to deal with the situation. If I am absent, it will only be due to certain conferences which I am attending.
§ Major ELLIOTWill someone be here on behalf of the Lord Privy Seal?
§ Mr. THOMASYes.
§ Mr. WISEWill the right hon. Gentleman include in the White Paper figures bearing on the effect on employment of the measures which are being taken for the revival of the export trade?
§ Mr. THOMASIt is impossible for anyone to do that. It is true that certain schemes of rationalisation, which I am encouraging because they are in the interest of the country, must have the effect of adding to the number of unemployed, and not decreasing it. It is of no use to run away from that fact.
§ Mr. ALBERYOn a point of Order. I desire to ask your guidance, Mr. Speaker. I have a question on the Paper which involves merely two figures. The right hon. Gentleman, in reply to this and other questions, has made many statements and given many answers, but on previous occasions I have found it practically impossible to get a direct answer. I desire to ask you, Sir, 20 whether it would be in order to raise this question on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt would be in order to raise a question of that kind on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House.
§ Mr. REMERMay I ask your guidance, Mr. Speaker, with reference to Question No. 33? That question has nothing whatever to do with the points raised in the other questions. It deals with the Unemployment Grants Committee, which is an old Committee, and it merely asks how many schemes have been approved during the Recess and for how many men and women they have found employment?
§ Mr. THOMASIf I may say so, this is not a different position. There are three Committees, namely, the Unemployment Grants Committee, the Development Committee, and the Colonial Development Committee, and the Government in various ways are giving financial assistance to each of these Committees. In my answer I merely stated that I anticipated that the House would like a full statement of all the grants made by each of these bodies, and that in the White Paper I would give that information.