§ MR. PIKE PEASE (Darlington)To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the percentage of members of trades unions, other than coal miners, returned as out of work in each of the months of 1908 and in the corresponding months of 1907.
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) I may remind the hon. Member that the figures for this year have been affected by disputes in the shipbuilding and engineering trades. Percentage of members of trade Unions other than those engaged in coal mining reported to the Board of Trade as unemployed at the end of January, February, March, and April, 1908 and 1907:—
1238 The figures for 1908 have been considerably increased by the indirect effect of the disputes in the engineering and shipbuilding trades.
1908. 1907. Per cent. Per cent. January 7.6 5.2 February 7.8 4.8 March 8.4 4.4 April 9.2 4.0