§ Mr. MILLARasked the First Commissioner of Works, as representing the Secretary for Scotland, whether any schemes have been sanctioned in Scotland for giving work to the unemployed in connection with the construction and repair of piers and harbours along the Scottish coasts; and whether any such schemes put forward by harbour and other local authorities will be considered with a view to providing employment?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ASHLEYI have been asked to answer this question. I am informed that some schemes of harbour and dock improvements in Scotland have been approved for assistance from funds at the disposal of the Unemployment Grants Committee and the Trade Facilities Act Advisory Committee, respectively. As already indicated in the reply of my right hon. Friend the First Commissioner of Works, to a question addressed to him by the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. Guthrie), the Unemployment Grants Committee are prepared to consider applications made by harbour authorities for assistance in the construction of harbour and dock works for the purpose of relieving unemployment.
§ Mr. MACLEANasked the First Commissioner of Works, as representing the Secretary for Scotland, whether he is aware that the construction of the dock at Shieldhall and Renfrew has been undertaken by the Clyde Trust, and that this scheme has been held over since the outbreak of the War; and whether, in view of the abnormal unemployment existing in Glasgow and in Renfrewshire, he is prepared to consider a grant or a loan under the Trade Facilities Act, 1921, to enable the promoters to proceed with the work immediately, and thereby assist in absorbing a large number of the men who are at present unemployed?
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§ Lieut.-Colonel ASHLEYI have been asked to reply. I am informed that the Clyde Navigation Trustees have decided to construct a dock basin at Shieldhall, but that owing to unforeseen engineering difficulties it is not expected that the work can be commenced for some time. Any application which the trustees might make for assistance from the Government in financing the work would have full consideration, but I understand that they are satisfied that they can themselves raise the necessary loan on satisfactory terms.
§ Mr. GUTHRIEasked the First Commissioner of Works, as representing the Secretary for Scotland, whether grants will be given for the building, development and repair of fishing and other harbours in the Moray and the North and West Coasts of (Scotland, keeping in view the importance of the fishing industry and the prevalence of unemployment, and the fact that promises have repeatedly been made to construct small harbours and piers which have so far not been implemented?
§ Sir J. BAIRDThe Unemployment Grants Committee are prepared to consider applications by statutory harbour authorities not trading for profit for grants towards the cost of harbour works undertaken for the purpose of relieving unemployment. Applications may also be made to the Treasury for assistance from the Development Fund for the improvement of fishery harbours, but I am informed that the assistance to be expected from this source is limited in view of the financial situation. My Noble Friend is not aware what are the promises to which the hon. Member refers. During the past 12 years grants amounting to over £120,000 and loans of over £250,000 have been made from Government funds for the improvement of harbours on the Moray Firth.