§ Sir S. HOAREasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the growing numbers of unemployed in the London boroughs; whether he will extend the Treasury grant of 50 per cent. for the construction of arterial roads to any approved schemes for employing labour upon useful work undertaken by the borough councils; and, if so, whether he will request the borough councils at once to prepare such schemes and to put them into operation without further delay?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI am well aware of the position to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. With regard to road improvement work in London, I am informed by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport, that all the local authorities in London know that his department is willing to consider any application which may1550W be made to it for grants or loans for the paving, resurfacing or improvement of (important) roads, and that department is in a position to make grants towards the cost of such schemes as the Minister of Transport can approve. Other schemes of public work that might be put in hand by local authorities to relieve the present position are at present engaging the attention of the Cabinet Committee on Unemployment, and until that Committee is able to present a further report, I am of course unable to indicate the extent to which it may be able to recommend the making of Government grants.