§ 47. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the need of some better method of keeping the Departments concerned in touch with local authorities engaged in the preparation and carrying out of schemes of public works for the relief of unemployment and the assistance of in- 1602 dustry and agriculture; that this is particularly the case where a number of authorities are concerned with the larger schemes and that delays often occur in getting these various local authorities together; and whether he has considered some method of improvement?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am aware of the need for securing close co-operation between the local authorities concerned in the preparation and carrying out of schemes, and between them and the Departments concerned. This was one of the subjects considered at the recent conferences with representatives of local authorities, and I hope that more will be done in this direction as the result of the conferences. A suggestion has been made to the conference that county councils should hold conferences with county district councils in their areas. This has been adopted.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWould my right hon. Friend also look into the point, which I refer to in my question, of bringing the different bodies together where there are one or two districts, even outside the county councils concerned in some big scheme; and is he aware that some of the ripe schemes are being held up by the delay in getting the bodies together?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe are now studying, as a matter of fact, all the reasons, the many reasons, for the delays that have taken place. We have discovered that that is one, and it is being dealt with.