HC Deb 06 July 1933 vol 280 cc497-8
37. Mr. KIRKWOOD

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the amount expended by public assistance committees in Scotland on able-bodied relief for the years ending May, 1932 and 1933; if he has considered the request from the public assistance committees that the Government should bear the entire cost of able-bodied relief; how much Scotland will receive of the amount, allocated for distressed areas; and whether, in view of the inadequacy of the grant, he will reconsider the matter with a view to relieving the public assistance committees of the entire cost of able-bodied expenditure?

Mr. SKELTON

The amount expended by public assistance committees in Scotland on the relief of the able-bodied poor luring the year ended the 15th May, 1932, was £1,075,026. The amount expended during the year ended the 15th May, 1933, has not yet been definitely ascertained but is estimated to amount to £1,600,000. As regards the second and third parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made on the 12th April by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, that the Government had decided to accept administrative and financial responsibility for assisting the able-bodied unemployed who need assistance subject to the necessary adjustment of the block grant provided under the Local Government Act of 1929. Pending the introduction of this long-range plan the Government propose for the current financial year to make available a special grant for the assistance of distressed areas and Scotland's share on the usual Goschen proposition will be £60,000. The last part of the question is, I think, answered by the business put down for to-day.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

The Under-Secretary says that Scotland has spent on unemployed able-bodied men £1,600,000 this year, and that the grant is £60,000. Is he aware that since the War Scotland has spent on able-bodied unemployed £13,000,000? Does he think that £60,000 is in any way adequate to meet the situation in Scotland?

Mr. SKELTON

My hon. Friend will excuse me anticipating a Debate about to begin.