§ 8. Mr. MANDERasked the Minister of Labour the policy of the Government with regard to the question of making grants for the erection of libraries in connection with their unemployment schemes?
§ Miss BONDFIELDIn view of the terms of the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act, 1929, under which grants from Exchequer Funds in aid of schemes of work for the relief of unemployment are made, these grants have at no time been sanctioned for the erection of libraries.
§ Mr. MANDERIs it not possible to reconsider this matter in view of the amount of employment that will be given?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI am afraid it is not.
§ 64. Captain CROOKSHANKasked the Lord Privy Seal what progress he has made towards curing unemployment since 16th April; and how many men and women, stated separately, have been found work since that date as a result of his activities?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI have been asked to reply on behalf of the Lord Privy Seal. The value of the schemes approved by the Government up to date for the relief of unemployment is approximately £177,000,000, which is £4,000,000 more than the figure as at 1st April which 2171 the Lord Privy Seal gave to the House on 16th April. Up to date figures of the number of persons employed, directly and indirectly, in connection with these schemes are not yet available but on the basis of the latest returns, as at the end of March, they are estimated to be about 240,000 or some 13,500 more than a month earlier. It is not possible to give separate figures for men and women.
§ Captain CROOKSHANKDoes the right hon. Lady appreciate that the figures she has quoted mean that only one person was found a job for every six who have lost jobs since the present Government came into office, and that the figures are particularly disappointing to Members of the Liberal party?