Mr. HORE-BELISHA asked:

the Prime Minister if he can make a statement as to the present position in the distressed areas; and whether he is satisfied that provision is being made that all districts suffering from exceptional distress, which cannot be alleviated from their own resources, are participating in the scheme of relief?

I have been asked to reply. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the reply which I gave on Monday last to questions by the hon. Members for East Middlesbrough (Miss Wilkinson) and Spenny-moor (Mr. Batey), which, I think, answers his question.

Are there not a large number of workers, not miners, who have been suffering poverty for a considerable time? There are a number of dockyard workers who have been out of work for years. Is no consideration to be given to them at all?

If the hon. Member is referring to the Lord Mayor's Fund, that is for mining areas and those within those areas, and it cannot be applied to areas which are not mining areas.

Why is Newcastle-on-Tyne, which is in the heart of a coalfield with six collieries and eighteen thousand unemployed, not scheduled as a distressed area and not to participate in this fund?

I think the hon. Member is misinformed.