Mr. Jenkinsasked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the number of young people transferred from the special areas for each year from 1930, in respect of whom payments in subsidisation of their wages have been or are being made; and the total cost involved?
§ Mr. E. BrownStatistics of the number of young people transferred from the Special Areas are not available prior to January, 1935. Particulars of juveniles between the ages of 14 and 18 transferred from all scheduled depressed areas during the years 1930 to 1934, and from the Special Areas only during 1935 and 1936, are as follow:
Association for the Relief of Distressed Areas regarding modifications of the means test; and, if so, will he state the result?
361W
§ Mr. E. BrownI am informed by the Unemployment Assistance Board, with whom I have been in consultation in this matter, that while their legal powers do not enable them to act precisely in the manner suggested by the association, the Board are fully in sympathy with the desire of the association to remove difficulties due to temporary unemployment affecting families or individuals who have transferred from depressed areas. They recognise that household expenses in the new district may for some time after removal be greater than they were in the old, and further that the removal may result in the creation of special needs. Under the new Regulations there is also power, which will be exercised, to meet any reasonable increase in rent which may result from removal. For these reasons it is felt that there should be no apprehension that the position of a household removing to a more prosperous area will be rendered difficult, and the Board suggest that any person in receipt of an unemployment allowance who contemplates removal should see the Board's local officer in order that the details of his case may be considered and information afforded as to what his probable position will be in the new area.