26. Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Prime Minister the approximate number of men which it is estimated will be found employment for six days per week for three months and for six months, respectively, for every £1,000,000 granted to local authorities by the Government to assist them in combating unemployment, and the total amount of money which the Government is prepared to allocate for these services during the next six months?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Sir Alfred Mond)As regards the amount to be provided by the State for unemployment, I would refer the hon. Member to the Memorandum accompanying the Supplementary Estimate for Civil Services presented to the House on the 19th October. Pending detailed examination of the various schemes submitted or to be submitted by local authorities, I regret that it is impossible to frame an estimate of the number of men for whom employment will be found for every £1,000,000 of Government grant.
Mr. THOMSONDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean to say that, with 1,750,000 unemployed, he has no idea as to the number of men who will be employed by the various schemes which the Government have submitted?
§ Sir A. MONDNot at all. There is an estimate in the Memorandum giving certain information on the subject, but the hon. Member wants the figure for every £1,000,000 spent, and that figure cannot be provided.