§ 47. Sir K. WOODasked the Prime Minister the actual amount expended in respect of the works of economic development totalling £160,000,000 approved by the Government for assisting in the relief of unemployment; the number of persons since January last to the last convenient date who have attained direct employment as a result of schemes initiated by the Government; and whether he has further proposals to make to the House with the object of mitigating unemployment?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Lawson)I have been asked to reply. As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the right hon. Member to the answers given to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton (Mr. Malone) by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 22nd January, and by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour on the 5th February. As then explained, we do not call for returns of expenditure by local authorities and others in cases where we can get returns of men actually employed. Particulars of the number of persons employed are not available in respect of 1660 a later date than the 30th January, for which the right hon. Member was given information by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour on the 5th instant. As regards the last part of the question there is nothing to add to the answer which was given by the Prime Minister to the hon. and gallant Member for Clitheroe (Sir W. Brass) on 11th instant.
§ Sir K. WOODCan the right hon. Gentleman make some further inquiries in relation to this amount of £160,000,000 which the Prime Minister has asserted is the amount approved; is he not in a position to tell the House the amount expended, and, if not, when will he be able to do so?
§ Mr. LAWSONAs the right hon. Gentleman knows from various answers which have been given, the only figures which are available from the monthly returns are those showing the number of men employed, and, as he has heard very often in Debate, it is not possible at a given date to get the amount of expenditure from the local authorities.
§ Sir K. WOODHaving regard to the very serious importance of this matter, as has been pressed by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Lloyd George), is the hon. Gentleman not prepared to make definite inquiries? Surely, the Treasury must have particulars as to how much is actually being expended at this time?
§ Mr. LAWSONThis matter has been debated from time to time, and, on the occasion of the last Debate, the latest figures available to the Government were given to the House. It is not possible to give any more recent figures.
§ Mr. C. WILLIAMSIs the Prime Minister satisfied that the figure given is correct?
§ 48. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister what steps have been taken, or are being taken, to implement that part of the Resolution on plans for dealing with unemployment passed by the House on 12th February last which instructed the Government to raise funds by public loans for work schemes to be financed partly by a tax on the increased land values created by the improvements carried out under such schemes?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot usefully add to the general statement which I made in this House when the Resolution in question was under discussion, and to the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Clitheroe (Sir W. Brass) on the 11th March.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the development schemes are enhancing the value of land to a tremendous extent?