§ 7. Mr. Lunnasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the number of unemployed in Newfoundland on the latest available date and the number in receipt of relief, together with comparable figures for 1935 and 1936?
Marquess of HartingtonNo statistics of unemployment are available apart from the number of persons in receipt of relief. The relief figures for February, including women and children, were 77,383, compared with 73,290 in February, 1936, 65,845 in February, 1935, and 80,456 in February, 1934.
§ Mr. LunnHow does this square with the answer given by the noble Lord's right hon. Friend a few weeks ago, that the number on relief was going down? All these figures are an increase on what they have been previously?
Marquess of HartingtonI am sorry if I read the answer indistinctly. The numbers in February were 77,383, as compared with 80,456 in February, 1934.
§ 8. Mr. Lunnasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has any statement to make as to the position of affairs in Newfoundland?
Marquess of HartingtonMy right hon. Friend is in communication with the Governor with regard to the long-term programme for economic reconstruction in Newfoundland which, as he informed the House on 16th March, has recently been prepared by the Commission of Government. He hopes shortly to be in a position to make a statement with regard to these proposals. In the meantime arrangements have been completed for the report by the Commission of Government for the year 1936 to be presented to Parliament, and this will, I hope, be available to hon. Members to-morrow evening.