HC Deb 09 December 1919 vol 122 cc1158-9W
Mr. DEVLIN

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, in the scheme of reconstruction at present being carried out, and the reduction of staffs consequent thereon, numbers of men are being thrown out of employment who were medically unfit for military service; and whether, in view of the hardship inflicted in many cases, he will arrange that these men, who were ineligible for military service, will be treated on the same basis as ex-Service men?

Mr. WARDLE

I assume that the hon. Member's question has reference to the payment of out-of-work donation. The House having decided that donation should not continue to be paid to civilian workpeople, but only to ex-members of His Majesty's Forces, I am unable to accede to the suggestion that those civilians who were rejected for military service as medically unfit should be treated as if they had, in fact, given military service.

Mr. CROOKS

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has received a resolution from the Woolwich Board of Guardians protesting against the action of the Government in stopping the unemployment donation without first finding work for the unemployed, while at, the same time workmen are being discharged from Woolwich Arsenal and are being forced to appeal to the board of guardians for relief, and pointing out that the Government's action is throwing the relief of the unemployed upon local rates instead of keeping it as a charge upon the National Exchequer; and. whether he will give this resolution his consideration?

Mr. WARDLE

I have not received a copy of this resolution. On the 28th November there were 1,780 men registered as unemployed at the Woolwich Employment Exchange. Of these 742 were ex-Service men, and therefore not affected by the stoppage of civilian donation. Of the balance of 1,038 civilians, over 600 are entitled to unemployment benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Acts, so that the total number for whom State donation or benefit is not provided is about 400. An analysis of the figures in other centres leads to similar results, and on the information before me, I do not think there is at present any reason for taking extraordinary measures for the relief of distress.