§ Mr. MANDERasked the Lord Privy Seal what schemes for dealing with the unemployment problem have been settled or are under consideration in respect of the Borough of Wolverhampton and the Urban District Councils of Willenhall, Wednesfield, and Short Heath?
Mr. THOMASThe Unemployment Grants Committee is at present considering applications in respect of seven schemes for roads, sewers and other works submitted by the Wolverhampton Borough Council. The estimated total cost of these schemes is £51,550. An application from the Wednesfield Urban District Council in respect of a sewerage scheme estimated to cost £34,000 was approved for grant by the Committee in July last. The Ministry of Transport have received a list of suggested works from the Borough of Wolverhampton, the principal scheme being the construction of a by-pass road on the east of the borough at an approximate expenditure of £170,000. This scheme is still under consideration by the corporation. Two other schemes of road improvement estimated to cost £9,520 have already been approved for grant, and details of a further scheme estimated to cost £14,000 are being examined. The Staffordshire County Council are preparing a programme of road works for submission to66W the Ministry of Transport and have invited urban district councils to forward proposals. Apart from this programme three schemes submitted by the Wednesfield Urban District Council estimated to cost £3,000 have already been approved by the Ministry and the grants issued. Schemes submitted by the Short Heath Urban District Council estimated to cost £2,636 are in course of being approved and a scheme from the Willenhall Urban District Council estimated to cost £1,631 is now being examined. The Development (Public Utility) Advisory Committee have recommended for assistance railway schemes in and near Wolverhampton estimated to cost £325,000.