§ 3. Mr. McENTEEasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the heavy percentage of unemployment in the London area, he is prepared to designate it as a depressed area; and whether he is prepared to discontinue the present practice of making it a condition for grant that men shall be brought in from other districts now designated as depressed, thus causing the dismissal of London men who are already employed?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONAlthough the level of unemployment in certain parts of the London area is regrettably high, it is not such as to justify its inclusion in this schedule, which is limited to areas where unemployment has been especially severe and prolonged and where there is a definite surplus of unemployed workpeople in certain of the heavy industries. As regards the second part of the question, no further schemes carrying the condition referred to are at present being approved for State grant. I am not aware that the introduction of depressed area men in existing schemes has resulted in the dismissal of London men already employed.