HC Deb 25 February 1937 vol 320 cc2160-1
25. Mr. E. J. Williams

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that unemployment in Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire is 30.7 per cent. and 26.1 per cent., respectively; and whether he can state the positive proposals of the Government to deal with the serious condition of these distressed areas?

Mr. E. Brown

The Government are fully aware of the situation in these two counties and the additional measures that they have in mind for dealing with it will be announced very shortly.

Mr. Williams

May I ask what those measures are? The House has been waiting three or four years to know?

Mr. Brown

Not three or four years.

Mr. James Griffiths

Cannot the hon. Gentleman promise a day in view of the Prime Minister's promise to bring in the Bill this week?

Mr. Brown

The promise was not given in such precise terms. It is impossible to produce the Bill this week, but the hon. Member will not have more than a day or two to wait.

Mr. Griffiths

Did not the Prime Minister state that the Bill would be introduced this week?

Mr. Brown

If the hon. Member will refresh his memory, I think he will find that mine is better than his. The Prime Minister said it was hoped that it would be possible to produce the Bill this week.