§ 40. Mr. THORNEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will issue a White Paper showing the supplementary grants that will be paid to the various local authorities, and the amount paid to each local authority in consequence of the Unemployment Assistance Board not being able to take over the able-bodied unemployed on 1st March, 1935?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Duff Cooper)As the hon. Member is aware, negotiations with English local authorities are not yet concluded. Subject to this point, I anticipate that it will be some time before the amounts finally payable to local authorities can be determined, and it is therefore likely that payments will have to be on a provisional basis for the time being. My right hon. Friend will consider, when more progress has been made, whether a White Paper giving provisional figures cart be issued.
§ Mr. THORNEBetween now and next Thursday when the right hon. Gentleman meets the local authorities, will he refresh his memory about the speech he made in connection with a deputation that I introduced to the Prime Minister, the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Lloyd George), in connection with the same question?
§ Mr. COOPERI think the hon. Member is referring to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and I 759 will bring his supplementary question to my right hon. Friend's notice.
§ 16. Sir FRANCIS ACLANDasked the Minister of Labour the position in relation to unemployment assistance of unemployed men cultivating allotments, group holdings and other plots, and smallholdings?
Mr. HUDSONThe board inform me that they will not make any reduction in allowances in respect of the produce of allotments cultivated by unemployed industrial workers for consumption by their households. Its policy in regard to the cultivation of group holdings and similar plots is to make no reduction for the first six months and thereafter to treat the net profit, if any, in the same manner as profit from any other occupation, the value of produce consumed in the household being ignored. As regards smallholdings, no hard and fast rule can be laid down in view of the variety of circumstances but the board's general policy in regard to unemployed men desiring to occupy smallholdings can be illustrated by reference to the arrangements made with the Land Settlement Association, under which a number of married men from the Special Areas will be given up to a, year's training on smallholdings at Potton in Bedfordshire and will be in receipt of special allowances during the training period.
§ Sir F. ACLANDWhile thanking the Minister for his answer, may I ask him to see if he can do anything to secure wide publicity for it as it would allay a great deal of anxiety?
Mr. HUDSONI hope the action of my right hon. Friend in putting a question down and my answer will secure that, but I will do what I can to add to it.
§ Dr. ADDISONWill the hon. Gentleman inform the allotment holders of the sort of statement which they will have to send in before an estimate is made as to the nett profits referred to by the hon. Gentleman?
Mr. HUDSONI did not use the words "nett profits" in repect of allotments I said the board will not make any reduction in allowances in respect of the produce of allotments cultivated by the applicants for consumption by their household.
§ Dr. ADDISONIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the serious dissatisfaction that arose some time ago owing to these men being required to keep accounts, and will he take that into consideration in making the estimate to which he refers?
Mr. HUDSONThe question of nett profits which I mentioned is in connection with the cultivation of group holdings, which are not the same as allotments.
§ Dr. ADDISONThey are the same thing.