§ Mr. HODGEasked the Secretary for Scotland the reason why the Cambusnethan Parish Council refuse to grant relief to able-bodied unemployed workmen who are in distressed circumstances; and whether he is aware that distress in that district is very acute and, however willing workmen may be, employment is unobtainable for a majority of them?
384W
§ Mr. PRATTI am informed that the Parish Council of Cambusnethan do not refuse relief to able-bodied unemployed workmen who are destitute. They have, however, reduced their scale of relief so that persons in receipt of full unemployment benefit will not have such benefit supplemented from the Poor rates. I am aware that there is a large volume of unemployment in that district, and that, in common with other districts, there is a considerable amount of distress, but I have no reason to suppose that the parish council are failing to fulfil their obligations in the matter of relieving destitution.