§ 45. Mr. BATEYasked the Prime Minister whether he can now undertake to lay before this House a White Paper giving full details of the schemes for the alleviation of unemployment which the Government have now under consideration?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)This is the same question as the one which the hon. Member addressed to me last Thursday. Some misunderstanding arose on that occasion, and I am obliged to the hon. Member for giving me this opportunity to clear it up. The policy of the Government in regard to schemes for the provision of work for the unemployed was indicated during the course of the Debate on the 16th February, and in these circumstances I do not think that any useful purpose would be served at this moment by adopting the course suggested by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. BATEYDoes that answer mean that the Government are not considering any schemes to alleviate unemployment?
§ The PRIME MINISTERQuite the opposite; I referred the hon. Member to the place where he will find a statement about those schemes.
§ Mr. BATEYOn the 16th February. There is nothing there that helps us. Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us now: are the Government considering any schemes, or have they considered any schemes, to deal with this important matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot go beyond the answer I have just given to the hon. Member's question.
§ Mr. SPEAKERMr. Levy.