Oral Answers to Questions — Distressed Areas. – in the House of Commons am ar 26 Chwefror 1929.
Lord Henry Cavendish-Bentinck
, Nottingham South
asked the Prime Minister whether the attention of the Government has been called to the recently issued Report on investigations in the coalfields of South Wales and Monmouthshire by the chief inspector of the Ministry of Health; and what further steps it is proposed to take to counteract the destructive effects of idleness in the distressed areas?
Mr Winston Churchill
, Epping
The measures which the Government are taking in order to deal with the position in the distressed areas have been stated in the House on several occasions. The most recent occasion was the Debate on the Supplementary Estimates of the Ministry of Labour on the 11th February, to which I would refer my Noble Friend.
Lord Henry Cavendish-Bentinck
, Nottingham South
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the chief inspector said that it would be nothing short of a miracle if the present policy of transference which has been adopted by the Government should prove an effective remedy for the conditions in South Wales? May I ask, most respectfully, whether the Government will consider the raising of a loan for the purpose of national development, in order that the destructive effects of idleness may be mitigated for these unemployed people?
Mr Winston Churchill
, Epping
I quite sympathise with the point of view which my Noble Friend puts forward, but he will understand that Question Time is not the moment when these extremely grave and national issues can be debated.
Mr Frederick Montague
, Islington West
Can the right hon. Gentleman say how it is that the destructive effects of idleness are discovered only among the poor?
Sir Alfred Hopkinson
, Combined English Universities
Has the attention of the Government been called to the steps that have been taken by the Society of Friends in South Wales in enabling people to acquire and work garden allotments? Will that work have the favourable consideration of the Government, especially having regard to its good effects upon the physical and moral welfare of the people? Has the attention of the Government been called to the great success of the experiments in that direction which have been undertaken in the County of Nottingham by the Board of Agriculture?
Sir Philip Colfox
, Dorset Western
Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is a fact that, in spite of the many well-organised opportunities for migration to the Dominions which have been offered to these men, they have persistently refused to go? [Interruption.]
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
