“That this House views with regret the growing volume of unemployment, and, recognizing the responsibility of the State towards members of the community who are bereft of the means of livelihood, is of opinion that every possible step should be taken to arrest the decline in trade and industry and to provide work or, in default, adequate maintenance for those whose labour is not required in the ordinary market.” The current views of the Labour members in respect of unemployment were very fully stated, and the parliamentary debate should be read. Shortly put, their points were these: (1) The unemployment problem is a national problem; it can only be successfully solved by the State; it ought not to be left for local treatment by local authorities. (2) Work should be found by the Government for every workless citizen, willing to work, and, failing that, adequate maintenance. (3) The volume of agriculture should be increased and smallholdings encouraged. (4) Trade relations should be established with Russia, Bulgaria, Turkey, and other former enemy countries. (5) The Government should establish new trades and industries in this country. (6) Public works should be undertaken, like afforestation, main and other roads. Critically read, the debate seems strangely barren of any really constructive suggestions by the Labour Party. Later, on December 16, 1920, the Labour Party sent a deputation to the Minister of Labour to urge him to accept the following propositions in regard to unemployment: (1) That unemployment insurance is no remedy; (2) That it is the Government’s duty to provide for the unemployed useful work in various Government establishments; (3) That a grant should be made to the Distress Committees under the Unemployed Workmen’s Act, 1905, in order that local schemes for the provision of work might be put in hand; (4) That the principle of the out-of-work donation granted after the armistice should be restored for the benefit of every unemployed person not covered by unemployment insurance, and that provision should be made whereby persons at present unemployed, but not covered by the Unemployment Insurance Act, would receive benefits under that Act. This last point was conceded by the Government subsequently in the House of Commons. Resolution of December 1920 On December 29, 1920, the Labour Party Conference, called to consider the report of the Labour Commission in Ireland, proceeded somewhat inconsequentially to discuss the problem of unemployment in Great Britain and subsequently passed the following resolution: