HC Deb 27 January 1931 vol 247 cc792-3
45. Mr. MANDER

asked the Prime Minister if he will now consider the advisability of appointing one Minister to be responsible for all aspects of the unemployment question, in view of the increasing number of persons out of work?

Mr. P. SNOWDEN

No, Sir. The unemployment problem affects the work of a number of Departments, and my right hon. Friend does not think it would conduce to economy or efficiency to transfer the functions of the separate Ministers concerned to a new Minister. As the hon. Member is aware, certain arrangements were instituted last summer with a view to securing effective co-ordination in this matter and those arrangements will continue.

Mr. MANDER

Is it not a fact that last Session one Minister was responsible? Was the result found so unsatisfactory that it is not proposed to continue the arrangement?

Mr. SNOWDEN

The hon. Member is referring to arrangements which were superseded during last Session.

Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLE

In view of the fact that the new arrangements have not in any way improved the position, would the Prime Minister himself not concentrate on this question, which is the most serious before the country to-day?

Mr. SNOWDEN

The Prime Minister is concentrating on it.

Sir K. WOOD

Cannot he invite the right hon. Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Lloyd George) to do something?

51. Sir K. WOOD

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the increase in unemployment, what is the attitude of the Government towards the proposal for a national loan for reconstruction and development purposes in connection with the mitigation of unemployment?

Mr. P. SNOWDEN

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave him on 11th November last, to which I can add nothing.

Sir K. WOOD

Does the right hon. Gentleman still adhere to his statement that it is not the policy of the Government to promote a public loan and then to try to devise some means of spending it.

Mr. SNOWDEN

Most emphatically.