HC Deb 11 November 1926 vol 199 cc1273-5W
Mr. G. HALL

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a resolution passed at a meeting of the Trecynon and District Free Church Council, Aberdare, calling his attention to the distress prevailing in that district as the result of the present coal crisis, and urging the Government to take immediate steps to alleviate this by authorising the guardians to supply, by way of relief, boots and clothing to the families affected; and what action the Government propose taking in the matter?

from the United Kingdom to British North America, Australia, and New Zealand, during the eight months January to August, 1926, and the corresponding net figures for the same period of 1923, 1924 and 1925, were as follow:

Sir K. WOOD

My right hon. Friend has received the resolution referred to by the hon. Member. Since the beginning of the coal stoppage this union has borrowed sums amounting to £297,000, of which £272,000 has been advanced on the recommendation of the Goschen Committee, and a further advance of £30,000 has been promised to enable the guardians to meet their expenditure.

Mr. JOHNSTONE

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in what districts the payment of out-relief to miners' wives and, children has been stopped; whether he is aware that there is serious privation in many districts; and whether he will take immediate steps to communicate with the authorities in those areas which have ceased to pay out-relief, with a view to a resumption of such payments?

Sir J. GILMOUR

I am sending the hon. Member a list of 27 parish councils which have, according to the information in the possession of the Board of Health, passed resolutions to stop relief. Notwithstanding these resolutions, many of these parish councils have instructed the inspector of poor to give relief, where necessary, to prevent injury to health through destitution, while, in the remaining parishes in the list, the Board have advised the inspector of poor as to his duty to prevent injury to health. So far as the Board are aware the inspectors of poor are acting on this advice and the parish councils concerned are acquiescing. The Board are in close touch with the whole situation, and inquiries are made forthwith into any cases of hardship brought forward. No acute destitution is believed by the Board to exist, but any specific instances which the hon. Member cares to submit will be investigated.