§ 43 and 44. Mr. S. SAMUELasked the Secretary to the Local Government Board (1) the number of men that were housed and employed in the Hollesley Bay labour colony at one time or another during the last financial year; the average number of weeks' work performed by each colonist; the average net cost of maintenance per head per week; the total cost of running the colony for that year; (2) whether he can state the net annual loss on the Hollesley Bay labour colony, and the amount of the contributions from local rates received by the Central (Unemployed) Body for London from the Metropolitan borough councils and the City Corporation during each of the last five financial years; and what purpose that body is now serving, having regard to the absence of unemployment throughout the country?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERThe Hollesley Bay Farm Colony has during the last financial year been in partial occupation by the military authorities. No unemployed persons have been given assistance at the colony during that period. The farm and garden have been maintained by the Central (Unemployed) Body, but no Government Grant for this purpose has been necessary. I will send my hon. Friend a statement of the contributions from the Government Grant and from local rates received by the Central (Unemployed) Body in the last five years. 2576 As regards the last part of the question, I may point out that the Central (Unemployed) Body is a statutory body, although at the present time its functions in the relief of unemployment are practically in abeyance.