HC Deb 02 May 1929 vol 227 cc1728-9W
Mr. MACLEAN

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that J. McKee, 131, Elder Street, Govan, was sent out to Canada as one of the harvesters on 12th August, 1928; that he was sent to Biaster, near Winnipeg, but could get no work and had to lie in the station all night; was given work by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company on the railway at Kioma, which lasted three weeks, and was paid three dollars per day, of which sum one dollar was deducted for food; went back to Winnipeg and was then sent home to Govan; that McKee has now received a demand from the Govan Employment Exchange for the repayment of £21 16s. as the cost of his transportation to and from Canada; whether he can state the reason for such demand; and whether he will have this demand withdrawn?

Mr. BETTERTON

Mr. McKee applied for and received a loan of £10 to enable him to go to Canada (where he stayed about six weeks) and a loan of £11 16s. to enable him to return home. His indebtedness is therefore £21 16s. This is apart altogether from free grants amounting to about £8 which were made to him. I have no information as to his reasons for returning; but his records contain a statement that he was not prepared to accept winter employment in Canada. My position, as a custodian of public moneys in this matter, is perfectly clear. It would not be consistent with my responsibility not to ask Mr. McKee whether he is in a position to repay the loans. There is no intention to press for repayment at a rate, or under conditions, which would inflict undue hardship. The question of how much is repaid and by what instalments must depend on the merits of each case, and it is open to Mr. McKee to discuss the position and his circumstances with the manager of the local Employment Exchange as he has been invited to do. While, therefore, I cannot agree that his undertakings to repay the loans should be waived without his making any effort to fulfil them and without his giving any explanation of why he should be unable to do so, I am quite prepared to make reasonable allowance for circumstances.