§ Mr. SHEPHERDasked the Lord Privy Seal what is the value of the work schemes submitted to him by the corporation of Darlington; the value of those sanctioned; and the number of persons they are calculated to employ?
Mr. THOMASSince 1st June, 1929, two schemes, estimated to cost £13,000, and calculated to provide direct work equivalent to the employment of about 50 men for one year, have been submitted to the Unemployment Grants Committee by the corporation of Darlington. Both have been approved. The corporation have also submitted to the Ministry of Transport a programme of works of improvement and new construction comprising 18 schemes, estimated to cost £344,000. Eight of these schemes, estimated to cost £144,000, were approved in principle in November, 1929, for grants from the Road Fund on the understanding that they were put in hand at an early date. The remainder of the schemes, estimated to cost about £200,000, involved negotiations with other local authorities, and the corporation were informed that further consideration would be given thereto when agreement with such authorities had been reached. It is understood that only three schemes,2188W estimated to cost £97,000, out of the eight to which approval in principle has already been given, can be started prior to 31st March, 1931. These should provide direct work equivalent to the employment of about 200 men for one year.