§ 32. Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Health if he has considered the request from the unemployed marchers to London to meet a deputation from them; and will he consider meeting them?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Shakespeare)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second part in the negative. It has been explained on behalf of my right hon. Friend that, while he would be happy to receive any of his colleagues in the House of Commons, he is unable for the reasons recently given by the Prime Minister to receive such a deputation as was suggested.
§ Mr. TINKERWould it not have been in the interests of the Health Department to receive those marchers who represent a body of people suffering from lack of clothing and food, and, if the Minister had heard a statement, would not he have been able to judge the need much better?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThe right hon. Gentleman the Member for Wakefield 1810 (Mr. Greenwood) refused s similar deputation, and presumably he thought that it was not in the interests of the Health Department either.
§ Mr. TINKERSurely, what another man has done in times gone by has nothing to do with the question?
§ 43. Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Labour if he has considered the request made to him from the unemployed marchers to London to meet a deputation from them to hear their case; and will he consider meeting them?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. R. S. Hudson)My right hon. Friend has replied that he is not able to accede to this request and in doing so he referred to the Prime Minister's letter of 23rd February, which has been published in the Press. He added that he is ready to see any Member of Parliament on the subject of the Unemployment Bill at any convenient time which can be arranged.