Mr. TEMPLE MORRISasked the Minister of Labour what was the total 1056W expenditure for the first eight months of 1936 on schemes approved by the Unemployment Grants Committee; what was the average number of men employed throughout this period on these schemes; and what was the cost per man of employment given?
§ Mr. E. BROWNThe Unemployment Grants Committee ceased to exist on the expiry in August, 1932, of the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act, 1929. Ten schemes, approved by the committee, were still in course of execution during the period mentioned in the question and the average number of men directly employed on these works during the period was 1,555. The expenditure of authorities during the first eight months of the year 1936 on the schemes in progress is not known, and it is accordingly not possible to arrive at any estimate of the cost per man-year of the employment afforded. The committee, however, after making a survey of the position, stated in their final report (Cmd. 4354) that they felt that, over the whole field of public works of the character approved by them, it could safely be accepted that capital expenditure of £1,600,000 provided fully 2,500 man-years of direct employment. The committee hesitated to suggest a corresponding figure to represent indirect employment, but stated that such employment was clearly substantial.