(_b_) _In the case of non-revenue-producing works_: Grants equal to 65 per cent. of the interest and sinking fund charges on loans, raised to meet expenditure on approved schemes for a period of half the term of the loan, subject to a maximum period of fifteen years’ grant. Both classes of grants were conditional on the work being commenced before January 1, 1922, and completed before March 31, 1923. The commencing date was, however, subsequently extended. A provisional limit of £10,000,000 was originally fixed as the total capital value of the approved works to which these two grants were to be applied. Local authorities, however, took up the Government proposals with so much enthusiasm, and the work of examining and approving the Schemes was accomplished so expeditiously, that by the end of 1921 schemes to the capital value of nearly £10,000,000 had been approved, and many others were under consideration. The Government accordingly decided, in December 1921, to increase from £10,000,000 to £13,000,000 the capital value of the works which might be approved for these grants; and on the further development of the work, in January 1922, again extended the limit from £13,000,000 up to £18,000,000. Works up to the limit are certain to be approved. Up to May 31, 1922, the capital value of the works approved was: Revenue-producing works £4,587,005 Non-revenue-producing works 12,655,358 ----------- Total £17,242,363 (For details, _see_ Table p. 190) The amount of direct employment which it is estimated will be given by these works is 629,113 men-months. The amount of employment indirectly given in the preparation of materials will probably amount to as much more. The cost to the Exchequer of the national financial assistance afforded to these works must necessarily at the present time be somewhat of an estimate, as the loans raised by the assisted authorities are for varying periods, with the result that the grants vary from periods of two-and-a-half up to fifteen years. The burden to the State is a diminishing one, and is spread over a period of fifteen years, but the total amount of the burden so distributed will probably amount to about £8,700,000. The work done by the Unemployment Grants Committee has been of an extraordinarily difficult and complicated character and most capably directed. It has been no easy task to exercise a wise and statesmanlike discretion, amid the welter of proposals, the pressure for financial assistance and the stringent limitation on the latter. So far as it is possible to administer relief works on a sound basis the Committee has achieved it. ANALYSIS OF APPROVED SCHEMES ASSISTED ON THE BASIS OF 60 PER CENT. OF THE WAGES COST. _Up to May 31, 1922._