§ 22. Mr. HIGHAMasked the Minister of Labour how many men were on the books of the employment exchanges in England and Wales at the end of August last; how many men were placed in employment through the employment exchanges during the month of August; and can he state what percentage of the men registered secured employment through the employment exchanges during the months of June, July, and August last?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAt the end of August, 189,851 men were on the Live Registers of Employment Exchanges in England and Wales. During August 25,361 men in this area were placed in employment by the Employment Exchanges. This figure includes a very small number of men who were placed more than once during the month. The proportion of men placed to those registered was 23.9 per cent, in June; 20.8 per cent, in July; and 19.9 per cent, in August. 367 The figures are in all cases exclusive of casual occupations, which I do not include because it has been suggested that the statistics of the work of Employment Exchanges are unduly weighted by figures relating to such occupations.
§ Mr. HIGHAMIn view of the unsatisfactory number of employés placed by the Employment Exchanges, does not the right hon. Gentleman think they might be abolished?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am waiting, without prejudice, the Report of the Committee presided over by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Gorbals (Mr. Barnes).
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI cannot say. But as far as I know it should not be long.
| I.—ESTIMATED NUMBERS EMPLOYED IN CERTAIN INDUSTRIES AT JANUARY AND JULY, 1920. | |||||||||
| — | January, 1920. | July, 1920. | |||||||
| Males. | Females. | Males. | Females. | ||||||
| Building | … | … | … | … | … | 716,000 | 110,000 | 796,000 | 10,000 |
| Mines and Quarries | … | … | … | 1,296,000 | 9,900 | 1,323,000 | 9,600 | ||
| Metal Industries | … | … | … | … | 1,994,000 | 306,000 | 2,104,000 | 303,000 | |
| Chemical Industries | … | … | … | 200,000 | 75,000 | 195,000 | 70,000 | ||
| Textile Industries | … | … | … | … | 546,000 | 878,000 | 560,000 | 884,000 | |
| Clothing Industries | … | … | … | 241,000 | 584,000 | 238,000 | 569,000 | ||
| Food, Drink and Tobacco Industries | … | 356,000 | 257,000 | 359,000 | 242,000 | ||||
| Paper and Printing Industries | … | … | 242,000 | 159,000 | 253,000 | 116,000 | |||
| Wood Industries | … | … | … | … | 240,000 | 65,000 | 245,000 | 65,000 | |
| Other Industries (including Gas, Water and Electricity under Local Authorities). | 437,000 | 142,000 | 447,000 | 137,000 | |||||
| Total Private and Municipal Establishments. | 6,268,000 | 2,487,000 | 6,520,000 | 2,456,000 |
Captain TERRELLIs it not a fact that there has been a large increase in unemployment in the glass industry of this country, and can the right hon. Gentleman state the reason?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI should like my hon. and gallant Friend to look at the figures first. They are very detailed. If he then wishes to put down another question, I will do my best to answer it.