§ 25. Mr. ROBERT YOUNGasked the Minister of Labour if he can state the reason why 1,000 persons who were registered at the employment exchanges in Belfast on 15th October were not pair unemployment benefit; whether the 5,300 ex-service men and civilians in receipt of benefit were in every case discharged or suspended from employment by their employers; and, if not, how many of them were out of work through political and sectarian antipathy on the part of their fellow workpeople?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Dr. Macnamara)I am making inquiry, and will let my hon. Friend know the facts as soon as possible.
§ Mr. MOLESIs it not a fact, according to the official returns of the Board of Trade in the "Labour Gazette," the record of unemployment in Belfast is now, and has been for 20 years, the lowest in the Kingdom?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMy figures do not, I think, bear out that.