§ 28. Mr. Parkerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that evidence given at the recent inquiry into the incidence of unemployment in the State of Selangor showed that there were over 2,000 unemployed clerks and their dependants needing assistance, including one-tenth of the total Eurasian population, among those persons who had had at least eight years' continuous employment in the State; and whether he is prepared to supplement, from the Federated Malay States' large surplus, the private charitable relief, given in rice and milk with only three or four dollars cash allowance per month per person, which makes no allowance for rent, clothing, schooling, or other necessities of life?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI have not seen the evidence to which the hon. Member refers, but the report of the committee which carried out the investigation states that it was estimated that the total number of unemployed persons living in the State of Selangor at the time of the inquiry was not greater than 400, or .07 per cent. of the total population of the State, and that of this number 22 per cent., that is, 88 persons, were Eurasians, out of a Eurasian population of over 2,300. The committee recommended various remedial measures, which are now under consideration by the local Government.