§ 30. Mr. DAVID GRENFELLasked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of men engaged on test work in the borough of Chatham; what are the wages and other conditions under which test work is applied; and whether he is satisfied that the work done is not of a character which would ordinarily be performed by regularly-employed persons paid at the recognised standard rate of wages?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Sir Hilton Young)I have ascertained that at the last date for which figures are available 195 able-bodied men in Chatham were required by the Kent County Council, as public assistance authority, to undertake work not for wages but as a condition of the grant of out-relief in accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of the Relief Regulation Order, 1930. The hours of work are 20 per week and the work is mainly in and about the Medway Hospital, an institution maintained by the Kent County Council, or light work in clearing up a refuse dump belonging to the Chatham Corporation. None of this work would otherwise be done by way of ordinary employment. Alternative arrangements are made for men who so desire to work on road making under the supervision of officers of the corporation, and I am making further inquiry as to these arrangements.
§ Mr. GRENFELLWill the right hon. Gentleman say how that number compares with the number in other towns where unemployment is of an equal standard; and will be explain how the work done by these people would have been done if they had not been available?
§ Sir H. YOUNGAs to the first part of the question, I should require notice before I could answer it. As regards the second part, the hon. Member will see that the work would not have been done except under these special conditions.