§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the West Ham Board of Guardians and the West Ham Distress Committee have worked out a scheme of relief work to be provided for unemployed in the farm colony, South Ockenden, Essex; that all such colonists in the first place to be selected from men not entitled to unemployed benefit; that in the cases of married men to be sent to the colony, the guardians to relieve the men's wives and families, and the men to be treated as of the single class for the purposes of payment to be made to the Committee; that the Committee have decided to pay the men 10s. per week, less 1s. 2d. contribution for health and unemployment insurance, to provide board and lodgings, also to disburse railway fares for all authorised journeys; and that the estimated cost of maintenance of a colonist at the colony is 20s. per week, together with colonist's payment of 10s., equal to 30s. per week; whether he has received a copy of the scheme; and whether the Government are prepared to make a substantial grant to assist the Committee in working the scheme?
§ Sir A. MONDI have received from the hon. Member a copy of a Report dealing with the subject matter of his question, and I welcome any co-operative arrangements of the kind suggested, but there are no funds at my disposal out of which I could make a grant towards the expenses of the scheme.