HC Deb 27 May 1930 vol 239 c966
1. Sir KINGSLEY WOOD

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has yet sanctioned any work in connection with a scheme of land colonisation in Great Britain?

The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Mr. J. H. Thomas)

I am awaiting the result of the consideration of a Bill in another place to enable me to set men to work on land drainage which, as I have said before, could make a more substantial and immediate contribution to employment.

Sir K. WOOD

Has the right hon. Gentleman forgotten the plan of the First Commissioner of Works which he stated in my constituency over 12 months ago?

Mr. THOMAS

I was not in the right hon. Gentleman's constituency.

Mr. SKELTON

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it would be a most valuable unemployment scheme to settle men on the land of Britain?

Mr. THOMAS

I believe that there are many schemes dealing with the land, but at the moment I am anxious for another place to pass a Bill which embodies the unanimous recommendations of a Commission, and, when they have passed that Bill, I can immediately get on and do some work.