HC Deb 10 December 1936 vol 318 cc2135-6
1. Mr. E. DUNN

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered recommendation 16, page 163, of the recent report of the Commissioner for the Special Areas; whether it is the intention of the Government to adopt that recommendation and enable numbers of older men and their families to be transferred, from the Special Areas to cottage homesteads in more prosperous districts; and, if so, to what extent?

The MINISTER of LABOUR (Mr. Ernest Brown)

Yes, Sir. As I stated in last Tuesday's Debate, it has been decided to initiate an experiment on these lines. A beginning will be made with schemes for 250 families, and the organisation to be set up by the Land Settlement Association will make possible an immediate extension of the programme if these first schemes are successful.

Mr. DUNN

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether this programme might not be made one of 2,500 instead of only 250?

Mr. BROWN

The hon. Member will understand that this is an experiment.

Mr. KELLY

Is this to be confined to one part of the country, or is it to be spread out over various places throughout the country?

Mr. BROWN

This is a question of an experiment in family settlement. Perhaps the hon. Member would put his question down.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

When are the Government going to stop tinkering with this problem, and tackle it in a proper fashion? Is it not dealing with the matter in a haphazard fashion to be providing for 250 individuals out of over 1,000,000? The thing is absolutely ridiculous.

Mr. BROWN

I have said that this is only an experiment.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

In cases where young men and women have been recruited, say, from South Wales to the North-East Coast or Birmingham, will the right hon. Gentleman make arrangements so that parents may follow a son or daughter without the application of the means test?

Mr. BROWN

We have already made arrangements for the removal of families.

Mr. WILLIAMS

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in all cases where the family means test applies, it prevents the other members of the family from following these young people?

Mr. BROWN

I understand that the family means test is a test of the family need.

Mr. GEORGE GRIFFITHS

Will the right hon. Gentleman, in formulating these schemes, consider the semi-depressed areas, some parts of which are as bad as the depressed areas?

Mr. BROWN

That was discussed in the Debate two days ago, when I gave an indication about it.

Mr. GRIFFITHS

What was the indication?

Mr. BROWN

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will turn up the OFFICIAL REPORT and read it.