§ 9. Mr. LUNNasked the Minister of Labour whether the Unemployment Grants Committee will consider and approve schemes of work for the unemployed submitted to them by local authorities after 31st December next; and what will be the percentage grant for approved schemes?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThere is nothing I can add to the information which I gave the hon. Member in reply to a similar question put by him on the 26th November last.
§ Mr. LUNNIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a very large number of schemes are now before the Unemployment Grants Committee and that a large number are being prepared by local authorities? Is it not time that the Government said something about what is to be their policy for finding work and also for helping local authorities in this matter?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe answer is this, that the limit of time for presenting schemes for the winter of 1931–1932 is part of the conditions laid down by the Labour Government which we have accepted. With regard to the second part of the question, it is obviously impossible for the Government now to say what 1224 their schemes will be for the winter 19321933. It is too early to judge what the position is likely to be then.
§ Mr. LAWSONWas not the time limit laid down by the late Government for the purpose of encouraging and stimulating local authorities to come to the Unemployment Grants Committee and thus find employment for the unemployed, while the opposite process is now being followed?
§ Sir JOSEPH NALLIs it not the case that these unnecessary schemes have contributed to the country's present difficulties?
§ 10. Mr. LUNNasked the Minister of Labour what was the number of unemployed persons engaged on work schemes approved by the Unemployment Grants Committee on 30th November, 1931; and what was the number similarly employed on 30th November, 1930?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONAt 30th October, 1931, the latest date for which figures are available, 51,115 men were directly employed on schemes of work approved by the Unemployment Grants Committee. The corresponding figure for 31st October, 1930, was 43,150.
§ Sir JOHN FERGUSONMay I ask whether the figure quoted by the right hon. Gentleman is in excess of the 7,000 men for whom permanent employment has been found by the Committee?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONYes, Sir.
§ 11. Mr. LUNNasked the Minister of Labour the total amount of grants for work schemes approved by the Unemployment Grants Committee from 1st September to 1st December, 1931; and what was the total amount of similar grants made by the Unemployment Grants Committee from 1st September to 1st December, 1930?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe information asked for in the first part of the question was given yesterday in reply to a question by the hon. Member for the Deritend Division (Mr. Smedley Crooke). The corresponding information for the period referred to in the last part is £5,750,000, the estimated present value of the grant from State funds being 48.5 per cent. of the cost.
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI was under the impression that I had given the hon. Member a complete answer. In reply to the first part of his question, I referred him to an answer given yesterday, and, in reply to the second part, I have given him the figures.