§ 41. Mr. LAWTHERasked the Minister of Agriculture the number of drainage schemes and the areas affected in Durham, the number of men employed and the average wages paid for the years ended December, 1928, and December, 1929, respectively?
§ Mr. N. BUXTONIn the year 1928 no drainage schemes were assisted from State funds in Durham. In the year ended December, 1929, eight schemes in various parts of the county were in operation with the aid of grants from the Ministry. The number of men employed was, towards the end of the year, 106. On four schemes piece-work rates of pay were paid for unskilled labour, the average being 1s. 8d. per chain; on the other four schemes the rates were 1s. 1d. and 1s. 2d. per hour. During the same year there were also six schemes in operation which were assisted from the funds of the Unemployment Grants Committee. It. is understood that the rates of wages were similar to those paid on the Ministry's schemes.