asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will alter existing regulations so that 25 per cent. of those working on schemes financed or partly financed from public funds will be drawn from persons who are not in receipt of unemployment assistance.

The selection of men for employment on works financed wholly or partly from Central Funds is based on the principle that, when there is not sufficient employment for all the unemployed, such work as is available should, as far as possible, be given to those who being physically fit and qualified to perform the work are relatively in the greatest need of it. In pursuance of this principle, preference for such employment is given to persons in receipt of unemployment assistance, regard being had to the scales of unemployment assistance payable to them, men in receipt of the highest scales being submitted first and so on down.

I am satisfied that this method secures the most equitable distribution of the work and I cannot see my way to cause any alteration to be made in the procedure.