Poor Law relief in London is always a matter of exceptional difficulty, and there has, since 1867, been a Common Poor Fund, through the agency of which certain Poor Law expenses are pooled and charged to the whole of the unions in London. During the war, this Fund was placed on a stereotyped basis, but with the rise of prices and with the growth of unemployment relief, hardship was caused to the poorer unions. An emergency arrangement was accordingly made for placing this Fund on an unstereotyped basis, much to the advantage of the poorer unions. Later, by the Local Authorities (Financial Provisions) Act, 1921, certain additional expenses in each union, and particularly the cost of out-door relief, so far as this was given within a scale and subject to conditions prescribed by the Minister of Health, were added to the expenses of a union chargeable on London as a whole. By this Act the burden of out-door relief in boroughs such as Poplar has been very greatly lightened by being spread over the wealthier boroughs like Kensington and Westminster. The Minister of Health, by Statutory Rules and Orders 1922, No. 3, prescribed the scale. It is, of course, within the power of Guardians to exceed the scale to meet exceptional needs in any particular case, but not at the cost of the Common Poor Fund. Assistance to Guardians to Raise Loans In cases where a Poor Law authority is in danger of being brought to a standstill by inability to raise from other sources loans sanctioned by the Minister for current expenditure, the Minister is empowered himself to advance the necessary money, on such terms and conditions as may be recommended by a Committee established under the chairmanship of Sir Harry Goschen, K.B.E. Up to the middle of March 1922, it had only been necessary to place three applications before this Committee. CHAPTER XVIII GOVERNMENT POLICY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT 5. Guarantee of Loans—The Trade Facilities Act, 1921—Policy of Advisory Committee—Difficulties of the Committee—Guarantees already Given. 6. The Export Credits Scheme—Specific Guarantees or Credits—General Guarantees or Credits. 7. Other Miscellaneous Schemes—Summary of National Expenditure. 5. GUARANTEE OF LOANS