§ MR. PIKE PEASE (Darlington)To ask the First Commissioner of Works what are the objects for which 500 workmen are to be engaged in the royal parks; what is the estimated cost; and from what Vote is the money to be met.
(Answered by Mr. L. Harcourt.) As in past years I am providing work in some of the royal parks for men for whom employment is desired by the Central (Unemployed) Committee. The work consists of digging and sifting gravel, levelling ground, draining, cleaning out ponds and lakes, diverting and widening roads, and preparing ground for nursery purposes. These are works for which no money has been voted by Parliament in the Votes, and the wages of the men will be paid entirely by the Central (Unem- 636 ployed) Committee. The supervision, tools, and materials required will be provided out of the sum taken for this purpose in the Vote for Royal Parks which passed the House of Commons last spring.