§ 69. Mr. H. STEWARTasked the Minister of Labour what is the Government's attitude to the proposal to pay to local authorities the equivalent of part of the transitional payment in respect of every unemployed man in receipt of such benefit who is given work by the local authorities on approved schemes and under approved conditions of employment?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead)Proposals of this kind have been considered on a number of occasions and have always been rejected on account of the dangers apprehended from the subsidising of wage rates out of funds provided for the relief of unemployment. I do not know what particular proposal my hon. Friend has in mind, and I may say that I am not aware of any proposal of this kind which is free from the objection I have indicated, but my right hon. Friend will be glad to discuss the matter with him if he so desires.
§ Mr. STEWARTIs the hon. and gallant Member aware that there are many local authorities who, if given assistance of this kind, could carry out urgent and useful works which would employ numbers of idle men, and would not be open to the objection to which he has referred?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADIf the hon. Member will give specific cases my right hon. Friend will look into them.