ASSISTANCE BOARD (INQUIRIES). (Hansard, 28 July 1938)

§ 4. Mr. Ridley
asked the Minister of Labour the figures of the not inconsiderable numbers of young applicants referred to on page 55 of the Unemployment Assistance Board's report with records of several years continuous or almost continuous unemployment; how far the inquiry into these cases has progressed; and whether he will instruct the Unemployment Assistance Board to discontinue these inquiries, which are based on the assumption that many of the unemployed do not want work?

§ Mr. E. Brown
The hon. Member will find on pages 71 and 72 of the Board's report for 1937 a tabular statement of the duration of unemployment amongst Board's applicants by age groups. Substantial progress has been made in the inquiry. As explained in the report itself and in the course of the Debate on the Board's estimates on 18th July, this inquiry is not based on the assumption suggested by the hon. Member but is being made to help the Board to fulfil its statutory duty of improving and re-establishing the condition of applicants. Both the Board and the local advisory committees, who are co-operating in the inquiry, are satisfied that it is giving valuable results and should be continued.

§ Mr. Ridley
In regard to the latter part of my question, is the right hon. Gentleman aware of a public statement recently made by a member of the Government expressing the opinion that the unemployed did not want work, and that it is cheaper for the Government not to give them work? Does that represent the view of the Government as a whole?

§ Mr. Brown
The hon. Member must not put a question in that vague form. If he has any statement to bring to my notice I will examine it, but I cannot accept a statement of that kind without being able to identify it.

§ Mr. Lawson
Is it not a fact that the Board themselves say in their report that large numbers of young people have been offered work and have refused it? What proof is there of that statement when there is no real proof that work has been offered?

§ Mr. Brown
The hon. Member does not do justice to the report. It makes it perfectly plain that the Board regard the number as small.