Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSON:

asked the Prime Minister if he can now state the decision of the Government with regard to their promised reconsideration of the measures to be taken to relieve necessitous local authorities from the extra burden placed upon them by the working of the five weeks' gap period in the Unemployment Insurance Act?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which was given yesterday in reply to questions on this subject.

Mr. THOMSON:

Are we to understand that the concession announced by the Prime Minister is the limit to which the Government is prepared to go to meet the deputation that waited on them some weeks ago from necessitous areas?

Yes, Sir. A Bill will be introduced, and opportunities for raising these points will then occur.

Mr. MALONE:

Is the Prime Minister still prepared to consider suggestions as to what is a necessitous area?

A Bill will have to be passed through the House in the next few days, and no doubt opportunities for discussing these points will arise during the passage of the Bill.