PARLIAMENTARY.
House of Commons.
July 15th.
Coal Dispute: Merthyr Tydfil Judgment.
Mr. Sutton asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the decision of the Manchester Board of Guardians to stop all relief to the miners who are locked out in the Manchester district; and will he say whether the Guardians have taken this action at his request?
Mr. Chamberlain: As the hon. Member is aware, the relief of miners is lawful only within the limits laid down in the Merthyr Tydfil judgment and [restated] in the circular letter issued by me on the 5th May. It was reported to me that certain miners were being relieved in the Manchester Union in the belief that the judgment did not apply to them. I accordingly informed the Guardians, after making inquiries, that on the information before me these miners appeared to be in precisely the same position as persons ordinarily employed in mines in other parts of the country, and that relief could only be afforded to them within the limits mentioned. I understand that the Guardians are now complying with the law in this matter.
Mr. Sutton: Seeing these men are unemployed through no fault of their own, will the right hon. gentleman get the Government to introduce legislation so that these men and women will not have to starve!
Mr. Chamberlain: I cannot accept the premises of the hon. Member's question.
Mr. Sutton: They are locked out.
Major Colfax: Does the right hon. gentleman consider the present stoppage is in any sense a lock-out?
Mr. Sutton: You ought to go and work.
Mr. Paling: It would be a new experience.
Relief to Boys: Merthyr Tydfil Judgment.
Miss Lawrence asked the Minister of Health whether he is yet prepared to answer the question whether it is with his sanction that Boards of Guardians refuse relief to boys in the colliery districts who have never been employed in coal mining?
Mr. Chamberlain: The sanction of the Minister of Health is not required for the exercise of the discretion of Boards of Guardians in individual cases, as long as they are acting within the limits of the law. I may, however, say that in my opinion the position of boys who have never been engaged in the mining industry would not be affected by the Merthyr Tydfil judgment.
Mr. Harris: If this Board of Guardians do not do their duty, will the Minister, under the new Bill which is about to become an Act, have the power to take over its work?
Mr. Chamberlain: There is no reference in the question to any particular Board of Guardians.
Miss Lawrence: Is the Minister aware that I raised this matter on the 15th June on the motion for the adjournment -- I and the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Mr. Mardy Jones); and in those circumstances does he agree with the statement of the Parliamentary Secretary that the matter had never been brought to his attention?
Mr. Chamberlain: If the hon. Member says that is so, I accept her statement. I can only say that the matter had not come to my personal attention until the debate the other day.
Miss Lawrence: In view of the fact that many Boards of Guardians are refusing relief to boys who have never been employed in collieries, will the Minister give instructions to Guardians that they are acting in error?
Mr. Chamberlain: I daresay that will not be necessary after the publicity that has now been given to the opinions I have expressed.
Mr. Mackinder: Did not the right hon. gentleman send a circular letter to some Guardians who had decided not to pay, stating that they ought to pay, and cannot he do the same in the case of these boys?
Mr. Chamberlain: I shall do whatever I think is necessary.
Mr. Kirkwood: Arising from that answer, which was a very nasty answer, I want to ask the Minister if he will give those instructions?
Mr. Speaker: Mr. Hudson.
Out Relief, Bolton.
Mr. Rhys Davies asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Board of Guardians of the Bolton Union decided yesterday to discontinue out-relief either in cash or kind to [dependents] of miners at present out of employment, and whether he will make urgent representations to the Board as to their statutory obligations to afford relief to destitute persons?
Mr. Chamberlain: This decision has not previously been brought to my notice, but I will make immediate inquiries. I may, however, say that while Boards of Guardians are bound to grant necessary relief, the form in which that relief is to be given is a matter for their decision {discretion?}.
Mr. Davies: If the facts of the case are as I have given them, will the right hon. gentleman take steps to see that the Bolton Guardians carry out their statutory duties?
Mr. Chamberlain: I cannot say what steps I shall take until I have exact information.
Casual Wards.
Major George Davies asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the fact that, largely as a result of closing the casual wards at Beaminster, Cerne Abbas and Wimborne from 1st April, the number of casuals received by the Yeovil Board of Guardians has more than doubled during the quarter ended 30th June, 1926, as compared with the corresponding quarter of 1925; [page(s) missing]
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