§ 87. Mr. WIGNALLasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that an order has been issued to stop the relief work on the land drainage scheme in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, on the 31st of this month, which will cause a large number of men to be unemployed; that a resolution from the Gloucester County Council has been sent urging the Government to continue this important and useful work; and that all the men employed on this work are ex-service men or unemployed miners, all of whom have proved themselves thoroughly efficient in carrying out the work; and will he look into this matter?
§ 91. Sir ASHTON LISTERasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Gloucester County Council has passed a resolution with reference to the refusal of the Government to make further grants out of the Unemployment Fund towards the cost of land drainage; and whether, in view of the special circumstances mentioned in this case, the Government will reconsider their decision?
Sir A. BOSCAWENI have received a copy of the resolution from the Gloucestershire County Council. The cessation 1697 of all drainage work on 31st May, 1922, was one of the chief conditions imposed by His Majesty's Government when considering drainage schemes as a means of alleviating unemployment, and that condition was accepted by drainage authorities and county agricultural committees when applying for grants from public funds to enable them to carry out schemes. As, however, I have ascertained that certain schemes have been unavoidably delayed by bad weather during April, I have obtained certain concessions which will enable the scheme to which the hon. Member refers, among others, to be continued, if necessary, to 30th June, so that it may be completed. Beyond this the Government is not prepared to vary its original decision.