§ 12. Mr. LIDDALLasked the Minister of Labour the estimated increase in the personnel of his Department, and in the administrative costs, involved by the new Unemployment Bill?
§ 10. Captain PETER MACDONALDasked the Minister of Labour the estimate of the number of additional Civil Service staff which will be created under the new Unemployment Bill?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe proposals in Part II of the Unemployment Bill will necessarily lead to some increase in administrative costs borne by the Exchequer. I am not at present in a position to give particulars but I will include a statement on the subject in the revised memorandum which I have undertaken to issue before the Second Heading of the Bill.
§ Mr. LIDDALLDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree with the President of the Board of Trade that the Civil Service is too large now and that we could do with a much smaller Civil Service?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONIt is a matter of opinion, but I am inclined to think that 1090 I agree with what the President of the Board of Trade said.
§ Mr. LAMBERTWill the right hon. Gentleman enable us to have the figures and estimates of the Government Actuary as to the cost of the Bill?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI will consider that suggestion. There will be a statement in the revised memorandum on the face of the Bill.
§ Mr. MAXTONIs that all the information that Members are to have—the revised memorandum as printed on the Bill I Will there be no White Paper?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONOh, yes; there will be a White Paper.
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, when a new Bill deals with National Health Insurance, as a rule we get a copy of the report of the Government Actuary on the Bill?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am not very conversant with what happens in the case of a National Health Insurance Bill, but I will consider the point which has been raised.
§ 75. Mr. LAWSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the negotiations are yet concluded with local authorities with respect to future financial responsibility for the unemployed; and whether he can now inform the House of the agreed conditions?
§ 76. Mr. THORNEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any agreement has been made with the local authorities in connection with the contribution of 60 per cent, towards the cost of relief of able-bodied unemployed under the Unemployment Bill?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Chamberlain)The financial arrangements under Part II of the Unemployment Bill so far as they concern local authorities are still under discussion with them.
§ Mr. LAWSONAs a settlement of this matter affects a great part of the Bill now before the House, what is the reason for the delay in a settlement?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI cannot lay down an ultimatum and say that negotiations shall be concluded by a particulars 1091 time, but I have no reason to suppose that we shall not finish negotiations in time to give the House information when the Second Reading of the Bill is before us.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSAre we to understand that local authorities are hostile to the second part of the Unemployment Insurance Bill?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI cannot help what the hon. Member understands, but it is not correct.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs it not almost without precedent to have a section of a Bill so dependent as is this new Bill upon a settlement of this matter laid before the House 1 Cannot the right hon. Gentleman give us a guarantee of an early settlement of this matter, so that the local authorities will know where they stand?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINNo, I cannot give any such guarantee.