§ Sir R. NEWMANasked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made with the land drainage scheme of the Ministry for the relief of unemployment; how much money has been expended up to the present; and how many men are now employed?
Sir A. BOSCAWEN331 schemes have been approved, of which 150 have been submitted by drainage boards and 181 by county agricultural committees. The number of schemes actually in operation at the moment is 166, and a number of schemes have already been completed. The total commitment up to 18th March is £331,500, while the amount so far advanced is £133,844, of which probably more than £100,000 has been actually expended. The number of men employed during the week ending 11th March was 5,157, and the total wages paid during that week was £7,970. The number of men employed a fortnight earlier amounted to 5,686, but bad weather has impeded work in certain places.