Catalogue description Local Government Board and Ministry of Health: Central (Unemployed) Body for London, Files and Minutes

The Central Unemployed Body for London was set up under the provisions of the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905. The Act empowered the Local Government Board to set up Distress Committees (consisting partly of Borough Councillors, partly of Members of the Board of Guardians and partly of persons experienced in the relief of distress), and to form in London and elsewhere central bodies to co-ordinate the work of the Distress Committees.

The duties of the Central Body for London included the establishment of Labour Exchanges, the maintenance of registers of the unemployed and the collection of relevant information. The Body could assist the unemployed by aiding their emigration or removal to another area, and by providing the unemployed man with temporary work "in such manner as they think best calculated to put him in a position to obtain regular work or other means of supporting himself." The Body was comprised of delegates from the Distress Committees, representatives of the London County Council and nominees of the Local Government Board. Additional members could be co-opted as required.

Between October, 1905 and May, 1915 the Central Body found employment for 47,590 men and 5,035 women. In addition, 14, 750 persons emigrated to the Dominions and a number of families were assisted in removing to various parts of England and Wales. The Body operated Labour Exchanges in the London area until 1910, when they were transferred to the Board of Trade under the provisions of the Labour Exchange Act, 1908; they were later taken over by the Ministry of Labour.

During the 1914-1918 War many of the Distress Committees throughout the country gradually ceased to function, and by 1919 the only duty of the London Committees was to elect representatives to the Central (Unemployed) Body, which in its turn was concerned exclusively with administering Hollesley Bay Colony. This was a farming enterprise acquired by the body in 1906 and used until 1915, as a training centre for agricultural workers. From 1915 to 1919 it was commandeered for war purposes, but it reverted to the Central Body in 1919. The Colony continued its existence until 31st March, 1930. On that date the Central Body was formally dissolved and its assets, including the Colony, passed to the London County Council.