§ 46. Major BEAUMONT THOMASasked the Prime Minister whether he will take steps to ensure that no grants in aid of works will be made to local authorities unless they can prove conclusively that the work proposed is of urgent public necessity, and to cause all outstanding applications to be reconsidered from this point of view?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Gray)I have been asked to reply. As regards unemployment grants, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to pages 8 and 9 of the White Paper (Cmd. 3952) which sets out the proposals of the Government and states, as regards outstanding applications, that it is 506 anticipated that only schemes of the highest economic value will be proceeded with. A circular letter, a copy of which will be placed in the Library, is being issued to the local authorities concerned. As regards Road Fund grants, I understand that my hon. Friend the Minister of Transport will make an announcement at an early date.
§ Major THOMASI am very sorry, but I did not hear a single word of the reply.
§ Mr. W. THORNEDoes the reply mean that all works of an uneconomic nature are going to be stopped?
§ Mr. THORNEThat is what the reply means.
§ Mr. R. A. TAYLORWill the hon. Member say what are works of the "highest economic value"? What is the standard?
§ Mr. GRAYThe reply is, "works of the highest economic value." The hon. Member may differ in opinion as to what they may be, but, obviously, I cannot deal with that point by question and answer.
§ Mr. TAYLORDoes it mean that they are schemes which will save the most labour or schemes which will provide the most labour?