HC Deb 11 April 1935 vol 300 cc1307-8
1. Mr. BATEY

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed men have been provided with employment by the Commissioner of the depressed areas?

The MINISTER of LABOUR (Mr. Oliver Stanley)

The duty of the Commissioner is to promote the economic development and social improvement of the special areas, and in the expenditure of the grants which he is now making for that purpose to local authorities and others it is obvious that employment both direct and indirect on a considerable scale will be afforded. From the mere facts of the case it follows that no estimate can usefully be given at this moment of the success, in terms of the numbers employed, which has attended the Commissioner's efforts.

Mr. BATEY

Does the Minister anticipate that he will be in a position later to give an estimate of the number of men employed?

Mr. STANLEY

The hon. Member will realise that a great deal of the expenditure of the Commissioner will be in respect of grants to local authorities and that another large amount will be in respect of agricultural experiments. It is not anticipated that the Commissioner himself will give any substantial amount of direct employment.

Mr. BATEY

Was not the chief object to find employment for unemployed men, and could the Minister tell us as soon as possible how many unemployed men have been found work?

Mr. STANLEY

I would like to repeat the warning, which I gave to the House at the time of the passage of the Bill, that the success of the Commissioner is not to be measured merely by the amount of temporary employment on work schemes that he gives to individual applicants.

Mr. TINKER

Can the Minister give us later on a statement upon the work of the Commissioner?

Mr. STANLEY

I am in communication with the Commissioner about the issuing of periodic statements on the progress made.