§ 15. Mr. LAWSONasked the Minister of Labour what steps he proposes for the 1931 employment of the unemployed in mining areas, particularly the long-term cases?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADAs to the Government's general policy on this matter, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave a week ago to the hon. Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell). I would also remind the hon. Member of the general activities arising out of the policy of the Commissioners for the Special Areas, including the opportunities offered for land settlement, and of the facilities for training and transference offered by my Department. In any cases where men are employed on schemes assisted by the Special Area Commissioners, preference is given to men in those areas who have been unemployed for long periods.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that, apparently, transference is the only practical solution, and do not the Commissioner and the Board find that transference has now arrived at a stage where it is devastating the areas?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI will quote as an instance the trading estate in the North-East area. I think it is generally agreed that there is at the moment an increased amount of industrial activity in the North East area.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that, as far as the mining areas of the Special Areas are concerned, nothing is being done and employment is getting less and in Wales and Durham the position is really getting tragic? Have the Government no concrete proposals for work for people in these areas?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI think it is agreed that the general industrial improvement throughout the country tends to have a favourable reaction on the mining industry.