§ 72. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of applications made to the Labour Exchanges during the year 1912; for how many of these applicants work was found; what was the proportion of casual to permanent work; what proportion of applicants were found work in Government works; and what was the number of applicants remaining at the Labour Exchange registers (general and casual) at the 29th December, 1912?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Robertson)A complete Return of the work of the Labour Exchanges during 1912 is not yet available. The uncorrected Returns, however, show that the total number of applications received on the general register during the year was 2,360,343. The number of vacancies filled on the general register was 784,459, of which 160,853 were engagements for less than a week's work. Of the total number of vacancies filled, 38,920 were connected with the Christmas work of the Post Office, and of these 28,265 were for less than a week. It is not otherwise possible to distinguish vacancies filled in Government employment. In addition to the vacancies on the general register, 258,620 casual jobs were found for workpeople on the casual registers of the Exchanges. The numbers of applicants remaining on the general and casual registers of the Exchanges on 27th December were 55,098 and 4,589, respectively. The complete figures will be publishd in the "Board of Trade Labour Gazette," issued on 16th February.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKESeeing the very large amount of public money spent on Labour Exchanges, can the hon. Gentleman say how it comes about that 85,000 persons still remain upon the books without employment?