§ 4. Sir ROBERT HAMILTONasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state the annual amounts paid by way of grants towards agricultural land drainage since the institution of the scheme, together with the proportion of the grant towards the total cost of the work done each year?
§ Sir G. COLLINSAs the reply includes a table of figures I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the Reply:
§ Since 1921 a scheme for the assistance of agricultural drainage in Scotland by way of grants has been in operation during each financial year ending 31st March. Particulars of the grants paid to date in respect of these schemes and of the proportion of the grant in each year to the total cost of approved work are as follows:
| Year. | Total Amount paid in Grants. | Proportion of Grant to Total Cost of Approved Work. |
| £ | ||
| 1921–22 | 14,826 | 50 per cent. |
| 1922–23 | 38,621 | 50 per cent. |
| 1923–24 | 32,048 | 50 per cent. |
| 1924–25 | 29,831 | 50 per cent. |
| 1925–26 | 9,112 | 30 per cent. |
| 1926–27 | 14,732 | 33⅓ per cent. |
| 1927–28 | 7,767 | 33⅓ per cent. |
| 1928–29 | 10,056 | 33⅓ per cent. |
| 1929–30 | 11,893 | 33⅓ per cent. as regards £9,814. |
| *50 per cent as regards £2,079. | ||
| 1930–31 | 23,110 | 33⅓ per cent. |
| 1931–32 | 24,020 | 33⅓ per cent. |
| 1932–33 | 11,054 | 25 per cent. |
| 1933–34 | 7,834 | 25 per cent. |
| 1934–35 | 2,111† | 25 per cent. |
| * A special rate for the relief of unemployment in the depressed areas. | ||
| † This represents the amount paid to date. Claims for payment can be submitted up to 28th instant, and this amount will be substantially increased. |