§ 46. Mr. LUNNasked the Prime Minister whether the Government have considered any new schemes for dealing with unemployment; and, if so, what they are and how far it is estimated they will reduce the number of unemployed in the country?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)As regards the special areas, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on Tuesday to my 293 hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-on-Tyne, North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle). In general, I may say that the policy of the Government has throughout been directed to the only effectual means of reducing unemployment and of providing the basis on which alone any exceptional measures for the assistance of particular areas can be successful; that is, by assisting in every possible way the recovery of trade and industry in this country. The measure of success which has attended this policy is shown by the fact that since the Government came into office the number of insured workers in employment has increased by 1,100,000.
§ Mr. LUNNDoes not the right hon. Gentleman see in that answer a confession that the Government have no policy whatever and nothing whatever to offer for the tragic position in which the unemployed are to-day and in which they are likely to be in the future?
§ Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMSDoes not my right hon. Friend think it better to reduce unemployment by 1,000,000 than to increase it by 1,500,000?