51. Mr. TREVELYA'N THOMSONasked the Minister of Labour the amount of relief work at present in course of construction under schemes sanctioned by the Unemployment Grants Committee; and the amount of grants towards the same, and similar figures, for a year ago?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI regret that information precisely in the form asked for in this question is not available. The number of men employed on schemes assisted through the Unemployment Grants Committee was 33,280 on 31st December, 1925, as compared with 38,605 a year previously. The gross estimated cost of schemes sanctioned during the four months 1st October to 31st January was £7,250,000 in 1925–6, as compared with £4,269,000 in 1924–5.
Mr. THOMSONArising out of those reduced figures, may I ask the Minister if he will authorise the Unemployment Grants Committee to make grants not less than those of last year in those districts where unemployment has increased.
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI do not think that this question can really be dealt with, if I may say so, in the form of question and answer. There is a Supplementary Estimate coming on, on which I imagine it could be raised, but, broadly speaking, the position is that the Unemployment Grants Committee can consider two cases namely, where the application is a definite anticipation of work for the future, and also where unemployment is excessive.