§ 54. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKEasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that his Department vetoed an attempt by the public assistance committee of the Worcestershire County Council to co-operate with the highways committee so tha1t able-bodied applicants for relief could be given work for wages; and whether, seeing that expert labourers are being turned off farms and that the highways department need watercourses in the county cleared, he will give the matter further consideration?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Shakespeare)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affrmative, and to the second part in the negative. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the letter addressed to the Worcester shire County Council, and I may add 742 that their scheme would have debarred a discharged labourer from obtaining employment under the highways committees unless he had previously applied for and been granted relief.