§ 43. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what benefit will accrue to Dumbarton and Clydebank as a result of the concessions made to the local authorities in distressed areas?
§ Mr. SKELTONIt is estimated from the provisional amount of the Distressed Areat Grant payable to the Burghs of Clydebank and Dumbarton that as a result of the concession in question the contributions to be made by these burghs towards the cost of relieving the able-bodied poor under the Bill will be reduced by about £1,535 and £340 respectively, which equals a rate reduction of more than 1d. in the first case and more than ½ d. in the second.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODAs the Chancellor of the Exchequer knows something about being "broke," is it not a fact that, in view of this great concession of a halfpenny and a penny in the pound which he is giving us, the Bank of England, though it may not be "broke," may be bent?
§ 44. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that under the Unemployment Bill the City of Glasgow will have to find £442,000 annually, whereas Birmingham will only pay £40,000; and what steps the Government propose to take to prevent this operating to preclude new industries being established in Glasgow and so relieving unemployment in that city?
§ Mr. SKELTONAs regards the first part of the question I am unable to give precise figures. As regards the second part, in so far as high local rates might act as a deterrent to the establishment of new industries, then as the ratepayers of Glasgow will benefit materially from the provisions of the Bill its effect should be in the opposite direction to that indicated by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs not the hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that, instead of unemployment decreasing in Scotland, it is increasing? While it is 360 true that all round there are 30,000 fewer unemployed this month, in Scotland there are 8,000 more unemployed, and that this will mean added taxation which will act detrimentally to the West of Scotland; and what is the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland going to do about it?
Lieut.-Colonel C. MacANDREWCan my hon. Friend say what advantage Scotland will get out of the extra concession which the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on Monday night?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODA half-penny in the pound.
§ Mr. SKELTONThe extra relief will be some £36,000.
§ Mr. NEIL MACLEANSince in Glasgow a rate of a penny in the pound produces £40,000, will the hon. Gentleman say how it will reduce taxation in Glasgow when you only give £36,000 for the whole of Scotland?
§ Mr. SKELTONMy hon. Friend is discussing another matter. The £36,000 refers to the special concession which was dealt with the other night. My hon. Friend's question does not deal with that at all.