§ 14. Sir W. BRASSasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a letter was addressed to him by the hon. Member for Clitheroe on 24th October last in connection with the signing on of the unemployed in Great Harwood to which no answer beyond a formal acknowledgment has, up to the present, been received; and whether he still considers it necessary, pending the result of his departmental inquiry, that the unemployed in this town should sign on an extra day in each week as compared with the adjacent towns of Blackburn, Burnley, Accrington, Nelson, Padiham, and Clitheroe where similar unemployment conditions obtain?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADThe letter of 24th October was a remonstrance against a previous reply from my right hon. Friend and in all the circumstances my right hon. Friend did not think a further reply was called for, though he will, of course, be glad to discuss the matter with my hon. and gallant Friend if he so desires. As regards the second part of the question, my right hon. Friend must await the result of the departmental inquiry.
§ Sir W. BRASSPossibly my hon. and gallant Friend has not read the last sentence in my letter. Is he satisfied that 274 the size of the exchanges should be the only criterion of how many days a week these unfortunate people have to sign on?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADIt is, at all events, a substantial criterion, but there is a departmental inquiry going into the whole of this matter, and I suggest that my hon. and gallant Friend should await the result of that inquiry.
§ Sir W. BRASSAs the departmental inquiry has already been sitting two months, when are we likely to get a report?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI cannot give any particular date, but departmental inquiries often sit a considerable time.