§ 70. Sir G. BOWYERasked the Lord Privy Seal for how many of the unemployed work has been provided by legislation passed by the Government since June, 1929; at what cost to the taxpayer; and under what Acts of Parliament?
§ The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Mr. T. Johnston)It is estimated that the employment value of the schemes approved under legislation passed by the Government since June, 1929, specifically for the relief of unemployment is equivalent to the provision of work for one year for 450,000 persons. Of some 250,000 persons estimated at present to be employed, directly and indirectly, on schemes for the relief of unemployment, it is estimated that about 150,000 persons are employed in connection with schemes under the legislation referred to, namely, the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act, 1929, and the Colonial Development Act, 1929. The total cost of these schemes is estimated at about £120 millions and the present value of the Exchequer grants in aid of these schemes is about £43 millions. These figures of course do not include expenditure under housing legislation, or such expenditure as that on classified roads assisted by grants from the Road Fund of ordinary expenditure by the Central Electricity Board.
Captain CROOKS HANKCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these people are employed in the industries of attracting tourists or of grand opera, which so much interest the Government?