§ 82. Mr. RAPERasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that, of the total number of applicants at the Holloway Labour Exchange last week, out of the approximate total of 3,800, nearly 60 per cent. were discharged soldiers; and whether it is proposed to take immediate steps to deal with the serious question of unemployment among ex-Service men, which is illustrated by these figures?
§ Mr. WARDLEOut of 3,887 men registered for employment at the Holloway Employment Exchange on 21st March—to which date, I presume, my hon. Friend refers—54 per cent. were ex-Service men and less than 3 per cent. were disabled ex-Service men. I hope that the revival of industry will before long make it possible for the men now unemployed to obtain satisfactory employment. In the meantime divisional councils and local advisory commitees throughout the country are doing all in their power to increase the area of employment immediately available. Special steps are, moreover, being taken with regard to disabled men.