§ 56. Mr. MACLAYasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the undesirability of paying out transitional benefit for no work and also in view of the present low rate of interest and general costs, he will take several concrete examples of useful schemes submitted by local authorities of distressed areas or Members of Parliament, and have them 998 analysed in order that the House of Commons may be advised on up-to-date figures as to the numbers likely to be given employment, the amount of unemployment benefit to be saved, and the extent of the Government loan which would be required to put such schemes into operation?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Shakespeare)My right hon. Friend doubts whether a useful purpose would be served by adopting the hon. Member's suggestion. In so far as it is possible to estimate the situation arithmetically, it is already known that. £1,000,000 spent on capital works in a year may be expected to give employment, directly and indirectly, to about 4,000 men. If all these men or an equivalent number would otherwise have received unemployment benefit or transitional payments for the whole year, which is unlikely, they would be paid about £200,000. There are no doubt other considerations involved that cannot be estimated arithmetically. Local authorities, with whom my right hon. Friend is concerned, raise their own loans for capital works. My right hon. Friend is always prepared to sanction loans for works which are remunerative or really necessary.
§ Mr. MACLAYCan the hon. Gentleman say whether the figures which he has just given are based upon the expenses of the Department during the last six months or so?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThey are the nearest estimates used by ourselves based on the latest figures available.
§ Mr. DAVID GRENFELLWill the Minister inform the House if there is any arithmetical difference between the £200,000 and the £1,000,000 and can he give an explanation of the £800,000?