§ Mr. JOELasked the Minister of Labour what was the total expenditure during 1935 on schemes approved by the Unemployments Grants Committee; what was the average number of men employed throughout the year on these schemes; and what was the cost per marl-year of employment given?
§ Mr. E. BROWNThe Unemployment Grants Committee ceased to exist on the expiry in August, 1932, of the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act, 1929. Twenty-five schemes approved by the committee were in progress in January, 1935, and 10 were still in course of execution at the end of the year. The average number of men directly employed on the works during the year was 4,742. The expenditure of authorities during 1935 on the schemes still in progress is not known and it is accordingly not possible to arrive at any estimate of the cost per man-year of the employment afforded. The committee, however, after making a survey of the position, stated in their final report (Crud. 4354) that they felt that, over the whole field of public works of the character approved by them, it could safely be accepted that capital expenditure of £1,000,000 provided fully 2,500 man-years of direct employment. The committee hesitated to suggest a corresponding figure to represent indirect employment, but stated that such employment was clearly substantial.