§ Mr. A. T. DAVIESasked the Minister of Labour what schemes for the relief of unemployment were sanctioned, are now in progress, or have been completed in the six months ending 30th June last; how many men have been, or will be, prospectively employed under these schemes; and whether any approximate calculation of the wages accruing from those schemes are available?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThe following information is available concerning the schemes for the relief of unemployment which were sanctioned by the Government, acting through the Departments concerned, during the six months ended 30th June last:—
1. The Ministry of Transport have approved schemes costing approximately £5,532,000. In addition, work has proceeded on a certain number of schemes previously sanctioned.
2. The Unemployment Grants Committee have approved schemes on the loan basis to the extent of £4,694,000, and schemes on the basis of 60 per cent. of the wages bill, costing £1,885,000. In addition, work has proceeded on a number of schemes previously approved for the year 1922–23 on both the above-mentioned bases.
It is not possible to say how many of the schemes mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2 have been completed.
1766W3. The Ministry of Agriculture have approved 539 schemes of land drainage and water supply, costing approximately £300,000. All these schemes were completed between the 1st January and the 16th June, though some were commenced during the latter part of 1922. The total wages accruing in respect of the schemes amounted approximately to £250,000, of which it is estimated that about £205,000 accrued during 1923.
4. The Board of Agriculture for Scotland has approved schemes of land drainage and improvement (including certain special road work in the Hebrides) representing grants by the Board of about £63,000, and a total expenditure of about twice that amount. These schemes were completed by the 30th June.
5. The Forestry Commission are committed to the extent of approximately £63,000 in respect of schemes of afforestation, apart from additional work in the Commission's own forests. Operations on these schemes ceased after the 30th June.
6. Credits sanctioned under the Exports Credits Scheme during the six months ending 25th June amount to £2,637,014.
7. Further guarantees under the Trade Facilities Act have been approved amounting to £3,776,000, making a total of £26,019,645.
The total number of men directly employment on Government-assisted and other schemes, including the schemes guaranteed under the Trade Facilities Act, so far as reported to this Department, was 121,000 on the 6th January. The number increased to 151,000 on the 28th April, and on the 30th June the figure was 138,000. These figures relate only to men directly employed on the works in question, and do not take account of the very considerable number of men for whom ancillary employment has been provided in the supply and transport of materials, etc.