§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will give the total cost to the State of Hollesley Bay from the date of purchase to the 25th March last and the total profit made by the same of farm produce during that period; will he say whether the value of the ground and buildings have increased and, if so, by how much; will he state the number of men sent to the colony since its inception by the Central (Unemployed) Body; what is the average length of their stay; how many have been placed on the land in this country and how many so placed are still on the land; and can he explain what is meant by the statement in the last report of the Central (Unemployed) Body that as a whole the work of the scheme may be considered definitely useful?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe total amount paid out of the Parliamentary Grant in aid of the Hollesley Bay Farm Colony since its transfer to the Central (Unemployed) Body in 1906 up to the 31st March last was £158,532. I am informed that the total receipts from sales up to the 27th February last, the latest date for which figures are available, is £62,450, and that the improved value of the estate as a labour colony has been returned by the valuers of the Central (Unemployed) Body at 31st March, 1914, as £14,109. I understand that the number of men sent to the colony to the 31st March last is 11,078, that the average period of employment is 9.82 weeks, and that the number of men placed on the land in this country other600W than those employed at the colony is 23, but that it is not posible to say how many still remain on the land. As regards the last part of the question, the statement referred to appears to be contained in a report made to the Central (Unemployed) Body by the Working Colonies Committee, and I can only refer the hon. Member to the report itself.