§ 34. Mr. MANDERasked the Minister of Labour if he has considered the resolution from the Wednesfield Urban District Council that the Government should again make grants from the Exchequer to local authorities towards the cost of approved works for the purpose of giving employment to unemployed persons, and that legislation should be introduced to provide that where as a result of works executed at the cost of public funds owners of land receive benefit by way of an increase in the value of their lands some proportion of such increase in value should become payable to the authority who financed the works; and if he will state whether the Government are prepared to accede in part or in whole to the proposals made?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI have received the resolution referred to. For reasons which have been stated to the House on several occasions the Government does not intend to return to the former policy of State-assisted public works for the relief of unemployment. No general legislation is contemplated at the present time with regard to the other matter referred to in the question.
§ Mr. MANDERWould it not be possible to put into operation the Land Taxation Clauses of the Finance Act, 1931.
§ 47. Mr. R. DAVIESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state, out of all moneys spent by the State on schemes to provide work for the unemployed during the last five years, how much, approximately, was spent on the purchase of land, material, and wages, respectively?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Chamberlain)I 2364 regret that it is not practicable to allocate the expenditure under the heads suggested by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. DAVIESIs it possible to find out approximately how much of this money is spent on lands? There is a difficulty in ascertaining exactly how much of the money is spent on unemployment relief?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe hon. Member is now asking whether it is possible to isolate the money spent on lands from money spent in other directions. I must have notice of that question.