HC Deb 18 March 1907 vol 171 cc472-3
MR. REMNANT (Finsbury, Holborn)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if the Returns of unemployment in New York State enable him to distinguish between those unemployed through weather and those unemployed through lack of work; and, if so, will he state what are the percentages of unemployment through lack of work only in the years 1903, 1904 and 1905.

MR. JOHN BURNS

I sent the hon. Member, in connection with his Question on Monday last, a statement which I had had prepared for him from the Quarterly Bulletins of the New York State Department of Labour showing the percentages of persons unemployed from various causes. I do not think it would be possible to distinguish the percentage due to the particular cause referred to throughout the whole of the period in question, but in any case I would ask the hon. Member to allow me to refer him for further information on this subject to the Returns themselves.

MR. REMNANT

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, when he said theother day he had made all allowances, he had taken into consideration the difference in the climatic conditions of the two countries?

MR. JOHN BURNS

There is no absolute standard or comparison available. I took approximate data and if the hon. Member will supplement his investigation by an examination of the 23rd Report issued in June, 1903, he will see there is not much difference between what I said and what is contained in the Report.

MR. REMNANT

I have done so, and find it is entirely the opposite.

MR. JOHN BURNS

I think the hon. Member consulted the preceding volume.