§ *MR. SOAMES (Norfolk, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that 34 per cent. of the members of trade unions in New York are out of work; and whether 637 he can give the corresponding figures for the United Kingdom.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEI understand that the percentage quoted is in accordance with the official returns of unemployment at 31st December last in New York. City. About nine-tenths of the total unemployment is said to have been due to lack of work and the remainder to trade disputes, sickness, and other causes. On this basis the proportion of trade unionists out of work in New York City in December from causes included in the Board of Trade Returns would have been about 31 per cent. It is right, however, that I should state that the figures for New York City are not in all respects comparable with those for the United Kingdom as a whole, since among other reasons the trade unions on which they are based include a much larger proportion of building operatives. But I need not point out that even after allowance has been made for this factor the returns show a much worse condition of unemployment than that which prevails in this country.
§ MR. CHARLES ROBERTS (Lincoln)asked the total number of unemployed in New York City.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEI am afraid I cannot answer that without notice.