§ 27. Mr. HERBERT GIBSONasked the Lord Privy Seal whether his Department has yet received any schemes for the relief of the unemployment situation from the Mossley Borough Council, Lancashire?
Mr. THOMASHaving regard to the very heavy unemployment in Mossley, I am disappointed to learn that no formal application has yet been submitted by the Mossley Town Council to the Unemploy- 234 ment Grants Committee for a grant towards works for the relief of unemployment.
§ Mr. GIBSONCan the right hon. Gentleman indicate the position in Lancashire as disclosed by the latest unemployment figures?
Mr. THOMASI have already expressed my disappointment that no application has come from a town suffering so heavily. The figures for Lancashire again this week shows 11,000 odd increase in Lancashire alone.
§ Mr. BROTHERSIs the right hon. Gentleman preparing any schemes for reducing the number of unemployed in Lancashire?
Mr. THOMASI am in almost daily consultation with the representatives of the cotton trade in Lancashire. The difficulty will be manifest to the whole House. It is one of those cases where no temporary relief can really help the permanent solution.
§ Captain Sir WILLIAM BRASSCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has made any representation to India about the new Import Duties?
Mr. THOMASThe hon. Member will have seen in the Press the very strong representations made by His Majesty's Government on that side of the question.
§ Mr. DOUGLAS HACKINGIs one of the difficulties of the right hon. Gentleman his disagreement with the Chancellor of the Exchequer over certain matters?
Mr. THOMASOn the contrary, the friendship between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and myself would almost equal the unanimity among hon. Members opposite.