HC Deb 05 June 1930 vol 239 cc2355-6
48. Viscount WOLMER

asked the Prime Minister which Minister will in future answer for the Government in respect of unemployment policy?

The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)

After Whitsuntide we shall revert to the old practice of putting questions on unemployment to the Departments concerned; when Government policy is involved the questions should be addressed to me.

Sir KINGSLEY WOOD

What is the reason for that change?

Marquess of TITCHFIELD

Is this not a proof of the utter failure of the Government.

Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

Do I rightly understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that if we want, at any time, a general discussion on the question of unemployment the Vote that we should ask for is that of the salary of the First Lord of the Treasury?

The PRIME MINISTER

It all depends upon whether the general discussion is going to be mainly Departmental or not, but we shall always accommodate the Opposition, and, if they tell us what they want and the time they want it, we shall put down the appropriate Vote.