§ Colonel CLIFTON BROWNasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consider the granting of assistance to schemes for tile and open draining in those counties where local unemployment is severe?
Mr. GUINNESSThe financial facilities which were recently announced in connection with land drainage schemes for the relief of unemployment were designed with one object in view, namely, to assist the transfer of unemployed labour from certain depressed mining areas. I have specially considered the position in Northumberland and Durham, but I regret that I cannot see my way to consider schemes of the kind referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend in these depressed areas, as such schemes would conflict with the objects underlying the Government's existing programme.