§ 35. Mr. T. A. LEWISasked the Minister of Labour whether he can give the number of ex-service men at present unemployed; and whether he can give an estimate of the number of skilled workmen among them?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir R. Horne)289,139 ex-service men were 1259 claiming out-of-work donation at 27th February, of whom 38 per cent. were registered under skilled occupations.
§ 36. Mr. W. R. SMITHasked the Minister of Labour to state the number of discharged sailors and soldiers that have been trained under the scheme for hand-sewn boot and shoe making; the number for boot and shoe repairing; the number still under training and their previous occupation; the number that have been trained under the scheme for boot and shoe manufacturing; and the number at present under training with their previous occupations?
§ Sir R. HORNEUp to date approximately 2,000 men have been trained in the boot and shoe trade, of whom about 45 per cent. have been trained in hand-sewn boot and shoe making, and the remainder in boot and shoe repairing. The number trained in boot and shoe manufacture is negligible. There are at present about 1,800 men in training for these trades, of whom at least 80 per cent. are being trained in hand-sewn boot and shoe making. I regret that I have no information as to the previous occupations of the trainees referred to, which are very varied.
§ Sir R. HORNEAfter training?
§ Sir R. HORNEI am afraid I cannot tell that. I may be able to discover it, but I have not the information at hand at the moment.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIs not the prosperity of the boot trade able to absorb a far larger number of men than are available?
§ Sir R. HORNEI should not like any reflection to be made on the assistance we have got in the boot and shoo trade. I am sure they are doing very well.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs it not a fact that the boot and shoe operatives have helped these ex-soldiers in every particular, and that no objection has been raised?
§ Sir R. HORNEThey certainly have given us every help.
§ 39. Commander Sir E. NICHOLLasked the Minister of Labour how many ex-service men are now unemployed; and what percentage of these have been unemployed for the following periods: less than four weeks; over four weeks and less than three months: over three months and less than six months; over six months and less than 12 months; over 12 months?
§ Sir R. HORNEAs this is a very long and detailed answer containing many figures, I hope the hon. Member will allow me to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ The following in the Statement referred to:—
§ The number of ex-service men claiming out-of-work donation at 27th February, the latest date for which figures are available, was 289,139, of whom 256,961 were claiming under the original scheme and 32,178 under the Special Extension Scheme granted to those who had exhausted their right to benefit under the original scheme. No information is available as to the total number of days of unemployment of those claiming under the Special Extension Scheme, but the following table shows the length of unemployment for which donation had been paid in the case of 256,961 claiming under the original scheme:—
| Number claiming in week ending 27th February. | Duration for which payment has been made. | |
| 14,040 | … | No payment yet made. |
| 99,951 | … | From 1 to 60 days. |
| 87,184 | … | From 61 to 120 days. |
| 25,644 | … | From 121 to 156 days. |
| 15,544 | … | From 157 to 198 days. |
| 9,932 | … | From 199 to 234 days. |
| 3,507 | … | From 235 to 275 days. |
| .1,159 | … | 276 days. |
§ It should be understood that the duration represents the total number of days for which out-of-work donation has been paid to the policy holder since his policy was issued. It does not necessarily imply continuous unemployment, but may cover recurring periods of unemployment.