HC Deb 18 May 1908 vol 188 cc1660-1
MR. GOULDING (Worcester)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he can give any information as to unemployment among members of trade unions which do not give any unemployed benefit. I beg also to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has any information which would enable him to estimate the extent of unemployment among unorganised and non-trade unionist workers.

MR. CHURCHILL

There is no information available as to the number of members who are unemployed belonging to trade unions who do not give unemployed benefit; nor is there any source so far as I am aware which would enable me to frame a statistical estimate of the numbers unemployed among unorganised and non-union workers. Such information as is received by the Board of Trade from employers and workpeople and their organisations, and from other sources on the state of employment is regularly utilised for the purposes of the articles on the state of employment in the principal industries given in the monthly Board of Trade Labour Gazette.

MR. GOULDING

As it is of great importance to have accurate figures in regard to unemployment in the case of non-trade union workers, will the right hon. Gentleman ascertain what steps can be taken to secure them for the House mid the country?

MR. CHURCHILL

I admit it is a very important matter and I have every desire to give all possible information, but I am not sure it is possible to make very great advance in our present methods of acquiring information.

MR. GOULDING

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of appointing a Sub-Committee to advise on the matter?

MR. CHURCHILL

I am bound to consider the matter if the hon. Member brings it before the House.

EARL WINTERTON

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of forming a branch of the Board of Trade on the same lines as the German Imperial Statistical Bureau?

MR. CHURCHILL

Not on the spur of the moment.