asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been called to the action of the Bermondsey Borough Council paying the men employed on relief works full wages to attend the May Day meetings; and if this action has been sanctioned by his Department?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The action of the borough council to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers was not sanctioned by my Department, and no grant will be made out of Exchequer moneys towards the expenditure in question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can make any further statement as to the intentions of the Government in reference to the alleviation of the hardships of unemployed women?

Unemployed women, in so far as they are in an insured occupation, are, of course, eligible for unemployment benefit. In addition, certain training schemes have been provided with the assistance of the Government. I regret that it is very difficult to find practicable means of assisting unemployed women, but I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that there are still large numbers of domestic vacancies unfilled which are available for unemployed women.

Is there any system of Government training for unemployed women for domestic service?

Yes, Sir, there are classes still going on.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a large class of women who are not suitable for domestic service, either by training or experience, and what is he doing for them?

There is a considerable class of that character, undoubtedly.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the policy being pursued by the manager of the Cleator Moor Employment Exchange in stopping the unemployment benefit from iron-ore miners who have passed middle age if they refuse to take work as labourers, and that the nature of the work offered requires young active men, whilst the wages offered are 4s. 6d. per day less than an iron-ore miner would earn at his ordinary work; and if he will see that benefit is not withheld on such grounds?

I am making inquiries locally and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

Is the right hon Gentleman aware that there are at least a score of new men in the grade who are seeking work day and night, and cannot obtain it?

If the hon. Member will send me details in writing, so that I can examine them, I will endeavour to give him the information.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons receiving unemployment benefit during the week ending 28th April, and the approximate amount paid for such benefit?

The approximate number of persons to whom unemployment benefit was paid during the week ended 28th April was 920,000 and the amount paid was £694,000.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, in 20 of the unions where unemployment is greatest, the amount expended in the relief of those ordinarily employed increased from £63,000 for the week ending 7th April to over £98,000 for 21st April; and whether, in view of this heavy additional burden to local rates, he will give sympathetic consideration to the formula for giving assistance to such districts recently put before him by the representatives of necessitous areas?

The answer to the first question is in the affirmative. I have not yet had an opportunity of considering the revised scheme to which the hon. Member refers, but it is under immediate examination in my Department, and I hope shortly to be in a position to look into it myself.