§ Captain TERRELLasked the Minister of Labour whether the Unemployment Grants Committee have issued any communication to local authorities on the subject of their needs in the coming winter; whether the answers received to date indicate unusual distress; and when the allocation of funds for relief works is expected to begin?
§ Mr. SHAWThe Unemployment Grants Committee issued circulars to local authorities on the 27th February and 27th June inviting applications for grants for works in relief of unemployment during the current financial year. Replies so far received show that local authorities with the financial assistance supplied by the Government will be putting in hand works this winter as before. I do not understand the last part of the question, as the allocation of grants for works in relief of unemployment is proceeding continuously.
§ Captain TERRELLasked the Minister of Labour if he will state the public authorities in Oxford to which the circular has been sent by the Unemployment Grants Committee calling attention to their winter plan of operations; whether he has received any answers from any of them and, if so, from which; and, in that case, whether any grants have been 2409W promised for the relief of unemployment in the districts concerned?
§ Mr. SHAWA circular has been sent by the Unemployment Grants Committee to the Oxfordshire County Council and to the various Borough, Urban, and Rural District Councils and Boards of Guardians in Oxfordshire. Up to the present applications for grants in respect of two schemes have been received from the Chipping Norton Rural District Council and are under consideration, but I should point out that replies were not asked for until 1st September, or where possible 1st August.