§ 83. Commander Sir E. NICHOLLasked the Minister of Labour if he will say how many men and how many women have been in receipt of the unemployment pay since its re-inauguration, and how many are in receipt of the same at the present time?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am unable to state the number of different individuals who have received Out-of-Work Donation, but I will publish in the
OFFICIAL REPORTa statement showing the number of men and women respectively claiming Donation at the end of each week since 21st November, 1919. I may say that for the week ended 16th April the number of men claiming the Donation was 218,114, 1710 and women 2,304—practically all ex-Service men and women.
§ The following is the statement promised:
| MEN AND WOMEN CLAIMING OUT-OF-WORK DONATION. | ||
| Week ending. | Men. | Women. |
| 1919. | ||
| 28th November | 353,668 | 5,155 |
| 5th December | 344,741 | 5,303 |
| 12th December | 356,069 | 5,566 |
| 19th December | 365,435 | 5,245 |
| 24th December | 365,695 | 4,915 |
| 1920. | ||
| 2nd January | 377,967 | 5,138 |
| 9th January | 388,139 | 5,007 |
| 16th January | 391,422 | 5,073 |
| 23rd January | 380,293 | 5,072 |
| 30th January | 372,173 | 4,943 |
| 6th February | 339,294 | 4,800 |
| 13th February | 323,725 | 4,548 |
| 20th February | 306,284 | 4,314 |
| 27th February | 289,139 | 4,005 |
| 5th March | 273,966 | 3,700 |
| 12th March | 262,662 | 3,443 |
| 19th March | 250,320 | 3,213 |
| 26th March | 237,626 | 2,882 |
| 1st April | 221,951 | 2,674 |
| 9th April | 211,643 | 2,460 |
| 16th April | 218,114 | 2,304 |
§ Note.—With the exception of a small number of merchant seamen covered by the Extension Schemes the figures relate to ex-Service men and women only.
§ Sir E. NICHOLLHow long is this Donation likely to continue?
§ Colonel GREIGCan the right hon. Gentleman show the occupations, or possible occupations, of these people?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI do not know whether that would be possible, but that will not be in the table I have promised to circulate.
§ Mr. W. THORNEWill it be possible to find out what kind of work these people did before they joined the Army?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI cannot answer that.
§ Mr. LAMBERTAre the Employment Exchanges endeavouring to find employment for these men?
§ Dr. MACNAMARACertainly, to the best of their ability.
§ Mr. HOUSTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Employment Exchanges throughout the country are a failure?