HC Deb 22 June 1939 vol 348 c2420
20. Mr. De Chair

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the success of the experiment begun in 1929, whereby unemployed men from the distressed areas were housed in camps for work on the Middle Level in connection with Ouse drainage schemes; and whether he will set up encampments for young unemployed men from the distressed areas to do work of national importance?

Mr. E. Brown

The main part of the work to which my hon. Friend refers was assisted by a grant from the Unemployment Grants Committee which ceased to exist on the expiry in August, 1932, of the Development (Loan Guarantee and Grants) Act, 1929, and there are no funds at my disposal which can be applied for the purpose which my hon. Friend has in mind.

Mr. De Chair

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure me that he will not be deterred from introducing similar camps for the unemployed merely because these were introduced by the Labour Government in 1929?

Mr. Brown

Certainly.