§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the statement of the Greenock Parish Council last December to the effect that one-sixth of the population of Greenock was in receipt either of unemployment benefit or parish council relief; whether he is aware that since then there, has been an increase of fully 1,000 in the numbers receiving relief; and whether he has any proposals which will have the effect of reducing this number by the provision of adequate schemes of work?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI understand that the statement referred to in the first part of the question was made by one of the members of the Greenock Parish Council and was an approximate estimate based presumably on an analysis of the figures available in the records of the parish council and the local Employment Exchange. I am aware of the serious un-858W employment which still exists in Greenock and have ascertained that during the month ended 15th January, 1926, the number of persons in receipt of poor relief increased by a total of 401. As regards the last part of the question, the initiative for devising schemes of relief work rests with the local bodies, but any proposals they may put forward will receive careful consideration.