§ 32. Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Labour the number of building trade workers of the respective grades registered as unemployed at the Walworth Road (Borough) Employment Exchange at the latest convenient date?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDAt 26th October there were 763 men in the building trade recorded at the Borough Employment Exchange as unemployed. These consisted of 14 carpenters, 3 bricklayers, 4 slaters, 4 plasterers, 258 painters, 11 plumbers, 368 labourers, and 101 other building trade workers.
§ Colonel DAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a statement was made in this House yesterday that the reason more houses were not being built was that the Ministry could not get the building labour?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI think that the answer I have given is quite consonant with that fact. It is quite possible for carpenters, and certainly bricklayers, slaters and plasterers to have, in the busiest times, numbers returned as unemployed, even if there are just a few who do not happen to be passing from one job to another at the time the count is taken. At this time of the year there is always a certain amount of unemployment amongst builders.
§ Colonel DAYThis is only one Exchange, Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the one may be multiplied by many, and means many more men?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe hon. and gallant Gentleman must remember that these unemployed are apart from those passing from one job to another. The bricklayers, slaters and plasterers, etc., are relatively nil, and might be multiplied indefinitely without producing any great result.
§ Mr. P. HARRISIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that employment on the London County Council estates can be found at any time for any bricklayers or plasterers?