THE SOCIAL ACTIVITIES OF GOVERNMENT 119

Committees of County Councils which deal with ordinary Poor
Relief. The Means Test was unpopular partly because of the
harsh inquisition which some P.A.C.*s made into the private
affairs of the unemployed, and partly because it was a household
means test—it enquired not only what resources the person
asking for help had, but what his relatives could do to help him.
Now that the Unemployment Assistance Board has taken over
kthe work, the test will be applied on the same principles all over
the country, but it is still a household test. The Minister of
Labour has to present to Parliament the regulations under which
the Board does its work, and secure approval for them. He also
appoints the Chairmen of the Courts of Referees to which
unemployed people, dissatisfied with the Board, may appeal.

The Board considers what sources of income each member
of the households of those who apply to it may have. Have they,
for instance, any savings? Does any one of them draw a war
pension? Is any money being earned? It then makes up the
income of the family to a figure which it considers will meet
their needs. Unfortunately, the researches of doctors show that
the incomes of the unemployed are not sufficient to keep them
in proper health. Thus arises one of the burning questions of
to-day; that despite the productive power of industry, and the
comfort and luxury which some sections of the people enjoy,
there is a large group who, from no fault of their own cannot find
work, and for whom society scarcely provides adequate main-
tenance.

Special Areas. The poverty of the unemployed has become
particularly noticeable in certain parts of the country where are
situated such industries as coal mining and shipbuilding., which
have suffered most from depression. Some of these districts are
dealt with by an Act of 1934, appointing a Commissioner for
"special areas"—generally called "distressed areas"—in England
and Wales, and another Commissioner for Scotland. The work
of the Commissioners in encouraging industrial development in
*the areas, and stimulating schemes for the training of the