HC Deb 12 April 1911 vol 24 cc604-5W
Colonel PRYCE-JONES

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he has received communications from various boards of guardians suggesting that able-bodied men who refuse to attempt to maintain themselves or their wives and children should be more stringently dealt with, and that for this purpose legislation should be introduced at an early date whereby such men could be detained and colonised by the Government at labour colonics to be established by the Government; and whether he proposes to take steps for early legislation in this direction?

Mr. BURNS

Resolutions to this effect have reached me from rather more than a dozen boards of guardians. No promise of legislations on the subject can be given.