BRITAIN’S WORKLESS

Grey River Argus, 5 October 1934, Page 9

BRITAIN’S WORKLESS

SCHEME TO HELP A MILLION (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. October 3. The local authorities throughout Britain to-morrow, will be notified that, subject do Parliamentary approve! the dates on which the new unemployment assistance. scheme, which is to supplement and complete the provision for unemployed, made by the unemployment insurance, is ‘to come into force are January 7 and March 1 next On the first of ithese dates persons under the Transitional payments scheme will be transferred to the Unemployment Assistance Board, a n <l nn the second date, the Board will take over from the public assistance authorities the responsibility for the remainder of the persons coming within the scope of part two of the new Unemployment Adt. The Unemployment Assistance Board is taking over a, vast task. Its chief function, will bp the assistance of ablebodied unemployed, who are in need. The number of applicants with w'hom it Will ha-vei to deal, when it assumes responsibility is over one million on the present estimates, ami of 1 these about SOO,OOO will be taken over on January 7 and the remainder on March 1. Including dependents, this means between three and four million persons. Such transfer of responsibility from 300 local authorities to one central body has never before been attempted. The Board has ’to frame regulation and the procedure for dealing with a great variety of individual circumstances. Every care is being taken to ensure that the transfer to the now system will be effected smoothly. BRITISH SLUM PROBLEM. RUGBY, October 2. The Government’s plans* to be presented during the coming Parliamentary session for the complete abolition <if overcrowding in Britain have been outlined by the Health Minister, who is beginning a 'four of the big towns in connection with the great housing scheme. The Government will lay down fi standard of overcrowding, and after a date to be fixed any excess of this standard will be illegal. After a national survey of the need tor new homes to fulfil this standard, local authorities will be required to provide them at appropriate rents. They will be given powers to acquire and redevelop inner area.s of industrial f- wns, and where necessary rehouse, the overcrowded population in modern Hats, the Governmen'f to provide •my financial help necessary t hr* ugh exchequer subsidies. A housing council will advise the. Ministry of Hen', li ■md direct the activities of the pub-

ciations. The- Minister pointed out that the scheme was favoured by the firesent low rates of interest and low building costs. Within the la-of few days, the Treasury had been able to reduce the ra'.te loans for hous'ing to Public Works Loans Board to 3 3-8 per yent. He said the scheme when achieved would mean the permanent raising of Britain’s standard of civilisation.