§ 53. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Prime Minister whether, in reconsidering the proposed cuts in which particular classes of persons have been represented to be unfairly affected the Government intends to consult the representatives of the organisations to which they belong?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThere has been ample opportunity since the various proposals for reductions of pay were announced for representatives of the organisations concerned to consider them and to make such representations as they 1271 deemed proper as to the incidence of the reductions proposed on particular classes affected by them.
§ Mr. MARLEYIn view of the fact that there is going to be a rise in prices, will the Government not consider abandoning the whole Economy Bill? That is a question to which I think we ought to have an answer.
§ The PRIME MINISTERAn answer to that question is to be given later on when we come to the next business.
§ Mr. W. J. BROWNWill the Prime Minister be prepared to receive, at a very early date, representatives of the Civil Service organisations whose members are affected by the last cut, and will the right hon. Gentleman give them the same consideration that has been extended to the members of His Majesty's Navy?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not see that any useful purpose would be served by that.
§ Mr. McSHANEHas any reply been sent to the deputation of unemployed men that came to see the right hon. Gentleman about the reduction of unemployment benefit?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs a matter of fact, that, question does not arise, because I gave them a reply on the spot.
§ Mr. MESSERDid they offer their dole back?
§ Mr. HOLFORD KNIGHT(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to make a statement in regard to the classes of persons involved by economies whose cases are of peculiarly great hardship?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Government have, as announced by me on Wednesday last, been examining details of the proposed scheme of reductions. There are undoubtedly classes of persons who are unfairly affected, and the Government have, in view of all the circumstances, come to the conclusion that the simplest way of removing just grievances is to limit reductions as regards teachers, police, and the three Defence Services, to not more than 10 per cent. This decision will not apply to the higher ranks of commis- 1272 sioned officers in the Defence Services. The balance of the Budget will be maintained.
§ Mr. ANEURIN BEVANIn the event of the unemployed taking the same steps to attract the attention of His Majesty's Government as those which the Royal Navy took, will the right hon. Gentleman give the same consideration to the unemployed?
Miss LEEWhen the right hon. Gentleman is dealing with eases of excessive hardship will he apply a means test of the same amount governing all classes, so that whether it is policemen, teachers, civil servants, or the unemployed, those below a certain income will get concessions?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI did not say cases; I said classes of cases.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODNo consideration for the working classes?
Mr. WALLACEWill this decision to reduce the cut of teachers the police apply to the emergency cuts imposed upon civil servants from the 1st September?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe emergency cut upon the civil servants was 5 per cent. [Interruption.] I have often made that mistake. It is not 5 per cent., but five points.
Mr. FRANK OWENIn view of the falling value of the pound, and the fact that every other class singled out for a, reduction has been granted a concession, will the Prime Minister now consider granting a concession to the unemployed?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe handling of the unemployment cuts was necessitated by special conditions of borrowing, and they must remain.
§ Sir BERTRAM FALLEWill the right hon. Gentleman make it quite clear, as to classes, that the only classes in the Navy affected are those who engaged before October, 1925, and not those who engaged after that date?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe original cuts proposed do not affect men who joined after that date.
§ Mr. MARLEYDoes the Prime Minister now admit that the grants to the unemployed were cut down at the dictates of foreign bankers?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI say most emphatically that that is not true.
§ Mr. R. A. TAYLORMay I ask the Prime Minister if he will not consider making a small concession to the unemployed along the lines of ignoring the first £250 of savings in assessing the relief to be given to men who have exhausted their standard benefit and who have to go to the Poor Law authorities to assess their means? If the Prime Minister would do that, it might avoid pauperising very large numbers of very decent people.
§ The PRIME MINISTERObviously, I cannot answer a question like that now. The whole of its implications must be considered.
§ Mr. DAVID GRENFELLIn view of this country going off the gold standard, and the devaluation of the pound to some extent, is it not the case that the Prime Minister finds himself in the position of actually adding, beyond the 10 per cent., to the reduction in the standard of living of the unemployed?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThere is a great difference between the state of affairs to-day and that which existed when the description was made of what would happen when the pound tumbled off the gold standard. The Budget is now balanced, and we are in a position to control the situation.
§ Mr. SPEAKERAll these questions are irrelevant. The proper place for them will be the Debate on the Committee stage of the Economy Bill.
§ Mr. G. HARDIEIf the cost of living is going up against the unemployed, what are they going to do?