HC Deb 30 March 1933 vol 276 cc1155-6
42. Sir ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUEL

asked the Minister of Health whether, with a view to ascertaining if there 's any considerable unsatisfied need for public works to which a loan expansion policy, with or without Government help, is applicable and whether such works represent an expenditure large enough in the aggregate to be of material use as a remedy for unemployment, he will obtain from local authorities and give in a White Paper details of individual public works advocated by local ratepayers which would each involve expenditure in excess of £25,000, the estimated expenditure on each individual scheme, the date upon which it would, if sanctioned, become effective as a relief to unemployment, and the total number of persons likely to be employed on the sanctioned schemes; and will he arrange in cases where sanction has been withheld to state the reasons for withholding sanction?

The MINISTER of HEALTH (Sir Hilton Young)

I fear the description of "works advocated by local ratepayers" is too uncertain to serve as a basis for inquiry, and the labour and cost involved would be very great. The schemes suggested would be of different degrees of practicability and urgency and at all stages of preparation, and would need to be examined to determine which were feasible. The dates of commencement and completion would be problematical. The position is that any application for carrying out useful works is sympathetically considered by me. I will send the hon. Member particulars of actual approvals. I may add, in answer to the last part of the question, that it is the practice to give reasons when an application is refused.

Sir A. M. SAMUEL

In view of the fact that it has been frequently stated that a general loan expansion policy in respect of public works is a possible remedy for unemployment, is it not possible for the right hon. Gentleman to provide us with information that would tell us whether or not that is all nonsense?

Sir H. YOUNG

That is another question, and, if my hon. Friend will put it down, I will consider an answer to it.