§ 18. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Minister of Labour what is the number of Employment Exchanges throughout. the country and the number of personnel therein employed?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThere are at present in Great Britain 401 Employment Exchanges, the staff of which—exclusive of cleaners—numbered 8,606 on 24th April last. Of this total, 4,588 consisted of temporary staff.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINCan the right hon. Gentleman hold out any hope of helping 152 the Economy Committee by reducing expenditure during the current year?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI think the reductions have gone as far as is absolutely possible consistent with economy. I would like to point out that the proportion of expenditure to benefit is very small as compared with what obtains in any other insurance business in this or any other country.
§ Mr. HARRISDoes not the large percentage of temporary clerks make it difficult for them to get the experience necessary for them to find employment for the increasing number of people who are out of work'?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND:I think not. The fact that some of them are temporarily employed does not mean that they have not accumulated a large amount of definite experience. It means that if and when, as we all of us hope for, unemployment sinks to its normal average, then a certain number of the staff will no longer be wanted, and can be absorbed elsewhere. Consequently, it would obviously be foolish to place a larger number on a permanent basis inside the Civil Service.
§ Mr. MACLEANWhat is the normal average of unemployment?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise.