§ 26. Mr. SHORTasked the Minister of Labour whether he can enumerate the schemes for the provision of work for the unemployed initiated by the various Ministries during the present year; the total expenditure involved; and the number of unemployed workers absorbed in consequence?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MA1TLANDSchemes of work for the relief of unemployment are initiated by local authorities, who may, subject to certain conditions being fulfilled, obtain financial assistance from the Ministry of Transport or the Unemployment Grants Committee. During the year 1926, the Ministry of Transport have made grants in respect of 203 schemes of the estimated cost of £4,848,598, and the Unemployment Grants Committee have approved for grant 231 schemes of the estimated cost of £3,332,000. The number of men who have obtained employment in respect of the schemes in question cannot be stated, but on the 30th October, 1926, there were directly employed, on 976 approved schemes then in operation, 33.288 men.