§ 15. Mr. WHEATLEYasked the Lord Privy Seal what proportion of every million pounds spent on unemployment schemes will go in wages; and what is the estimated number of workers?
Mr. THOMASIt is only possible to give an estimate, but, taking the works as a whole, the expenditure of £1,000,000 probably represents, indirect and in direct employment, work for 4,000 men for a year.
§ Mr. WHEATLEYWill the right hon. Gentleman give us his estimate of the amount of wages that will be paid to these men out of the £1,000,000?
Mr. THOMASHow could I, and how could anyone who himself was an employer of labour, make any such calculation?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that the House, which votes £1,000,000 in order that people may get wages, is entitled to know how much of it is going in wages?
Mr. THOMASCertainly; but I also think that the House, in voting any sum of money, is entitled to apply itself to the practical difficulties of it. To give a simple illustration, you may vote £20,000,000 for Charing Cross Bridge, £8,000,000—
§ Mr. SPEAKERSir Nicholas Grattan-Doyle.