45. Miss WARDasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now inform the House of the additional sum required to reimburse local authorities from 1st October to 28th February for the maintenance of the able-bodied unemployed who will be taken over by the Minister of Labour on the appointed day, the figures to relate, respectively, to the country as a whole, to the north-east coast, and to Northumberland county council and Newcastle-on-Tyne?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have already stated that I am not prepared to consider any further payment to local autho 945 rities in respect of the period from 1st October to the end of February; there is therefore no such sum required as is assumed by my hon. Friend.
Miss WARDWill it be possible to let the local authorities have the information in order that we may know how to press the Government and to obtain a reimbursement?
§ Brigadier-General NATIONHas any arrangement been arrived at with the local authorities as to the further postponement of the second appointed day?
§ Mr. THORNEDoes not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that, in consequence of the Government refusing to reimburse the local authorities, it means an additional rate in some cases of 2d. and 3d. in the pound?
| Period. | Pontypridd. | Pontyclun. | Tonyrefail. | |
| Week ended 8th December, 1934 | … | 4,888 | 636 | 1,086 |
| Week ended 15th December, 1934 | … | 4,862 | 650 | 1,095 |
| 2 weeks ended 29th December, 1934 | … | 9,782* | 1,240* | 2,141* |
| * This figure represents the total number of payments made in the two weeks, and not the number of separate individuals to whom payments were made. |