§ Mr. Prittasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that there are some 5,000 persons unemployed in Cyprus, including many ex-Servicemen; what proportion this represents of the normal wage-earning population; and whether and what steps are being taken to relieve the situation by providing either work or maintenance for them.
§ Colonel StanleyExact unemployment figures are not available, but it is estimated that not more than a few hundred regular wage-earning labourers, including a few ex-Servicemen, are without employment at present. It is impossible to estimate what proportion of the normal wage-earning population this figure represents, but I understand that the number of labourers wholly dependent on wages is probably about 20,000. To meet this situation the Government have put in band a programme of public works estimated to cost about £120,000; in addition, over £250,000 will be spent locally during 1945 on projects financed under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act.