§ 66. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action the Government intend to take with regard to the petitions from local authorities in Scotland, asking that the State should accept full responsibility for able-bodied relief; and will he state the amount that has been expended by local authorities in Scotland, from the rates, in the maintenance of the able-bodied unemployed since 1921?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Skelton)As regards the first part of the question, my right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State and the Minister of Labour, are to receiver a deputation from the local authorities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen early next week. As regards the latter part, the amount expended from the rates by local authorities in Scotland in connection with the 301 relief of the destitute able-bodied unemployed during the years from 1020–21 to 1930–31, inclusive, was £12,161,626. In addition, £482,090 was expended from the rates in connection with the relief of dependants of miners during the coal stoppage.