§ 28. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is now in a position to give the numbers of unemployed that have been engaged and taken on for work on the new schemes initiated by him during the past six months?
Mr. THOMASI would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the reply which I gave on the 10th December to the hon. Member for North Newcastle (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle), of which I am sending him a copy.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs the Lord Privy Seal satisfied with the results of the schemes, seeing that unemployment figures are rising so rapidly every week?
Mr. THOMASI am never satisfied while there is any unemployment. It is quite true that the figures have risen, but it is equally true that they are nearly 200,000 better than they were on the 31st of December last year.
§ Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLEMay I ask whether, since the date he gave the answer to the hon. Member for Newcastle North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle), any new schemes have been sanctioned, and, if so, what has been the result?
§ Major Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIRIs not a comparison of the figures of unemployment a fortnight before Christmas with the numbers unemployed a week after Christmas, a rather misleading comparison?
Mr. THOMASIt is because I have endeavoured to show the seasonal fluctuations that I have repeatedly stated that I would not allow the right hon Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Lloyd George) to judge unemployment on that basis.
§ Mr. SKELTONWith regard to new schemes, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman has definitely and finally turned down land colonisation?