59. Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Minister of Transport the number of persons employed on road schemes assisted by the Ministry for the relief of unemployment in October of last year and at the present time?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)The question is one which falls to be answered by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, who has asked me to reply on his behalf. According to returns received, 16,108 men were employed on the 30th October, 1926, on major schemes of road improvement and construction approved by the Ministry of Transport for Government grant. The number of men employed at the 29th October, 1927, was 12,354.
§ Mr. PALINGCan the right hon. Gentleman state the main reason for this decrease?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe reason for the decrease is that the programme is approaching completion, but we have still considerable work to carry out.
§ Mr. PALINGIs it not a fact that the number of local authorities who are asking to be allowed to proceed with work under these schemes is growing, and that scores of the schemes are turned down?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe schemes that are turned down are what I may call the 100 per cent. schemes, in which the Road Fund has to find all the money and the local authority finds none.
§ Mr. PALINGIs not the reason why they are turned down, that the local authority has not the money?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNo, Sir.
§ Mr. BATEYMay we expect an increase in the number of men employed on road schemes during the winter?
§ Colonel ASHLEYIf the hon. Member will put down a Question, I will give him an answer.