§ Sir J. LAMBasked the Minister of Labour if she will supply complete average figures of wages, employment and unemployment for the years 1926 to 1929, inclusive, in respect of that part of the pottery industry the products of which are, on importation, liable to duty?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe statistics collected by the Ministry of Labour in regard to wages, employment and unemployment in the pottery industry do not separately distinguish that part of the industry the products of which are, on importation, liable to duty. I am informed, however, by the Board of Trade that particulars supplied to that Department by the English China Manufacturers' Association, relating to the numbers employed, by firms claimed to be responsible for 50 to 60 per cent. of the output of these products, and to the wages paid during the three years ended September, 1929, show the following percentage changes:
AVERAGE NUMBERS employed and Wages paid expressed as percentages of the data for the 12 months ended September, 1927. — Average Numbers Employed. Average Wages Paid. 12 months to Sept. 1927 100.0 100¼0 12 months to Sept. 1928 99.7 100.8 12 months to Sept. 1929 104.4 104.7