§ Mr. ROYCEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he can state the acreage of land it is proposed to reclaim from the Wash; when he hopes to have the reclaimed land available for cultivation; how many officers and men are now engaged upon this work; and what is the estimated cost of the scheme?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe present scheme, which was primarily undertaken to relieve unemployment, contemplates the reclamation of 574 acres of land, but the Board are considering whether it should be carried out as it stands or in a somewhat modified form. The present scheme would probably be completed in about ten months, and its total estimated cost is about £52,500. The difficulties arising from the carrying out of work with unemployed labour have added considerably to the expense. At present two officers and 106 men are engaged on the scheme.