HC Deb 15 May 1952 vol 500 cc1604-5
14. Mrs. Castle

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in areas of growing unemployment like Blackburn, he will authorise the payment of special grants to the local authority to enable them to carry out urgently needed public works with the surplus labour now available.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

My right hon. Friend does not consider that the present situation demands such measures. The Government is already taking other steps to help the situation in the textile areas, particularly the recently accelerated textile purchasing programme.

Mrs. Castle

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that recent action has done nothing to stop the rise in unemployment in these areas? In view of the fact that Blackburn has a large number of public works which urgently need doing and which the authorities have not been able to do since the end of the war—up to now there has been a labour shortage—will he not help them to employ idle labour usefully at this time?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I sympathise with the objects behind the hon. Lady's question; but I do not believe it is the right way to handle this important and difficult problem.

Mr. Assheton

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, important as it is to find alternative labour for those who are unemployed in Lancashire—particularly in Blackburn—public works do not necessarily provide the sort of work which those unemployed require? For instance, unemployed weavers are not really the most suitable people to carry out public works.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Yes, Sir. That is a very important aspect of the problem.

Mr. Harold Davies

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the White Paper of 1944—which was generally agreed—stated that a policy of investment would go on in times of slump? Is he also aware that, the other evening, I asked the Chancellor if it might now be possible to release post-war credits for purchase coupons in the textile industry? Will he consider this matter?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Everything the hon. Gentleman says will be considered.

Mrs. Castle

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there are some urgently needed road improvements in Blackburn which have been hanging fire for a long time because labour has not been available? Many unemployed people in Blackburn would be thankful to be employed in this work if the local authority could be helped to finance it.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Specific questions relating to road improvements are for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport.