§ 42. Mr. SWANasked the Minister of Labour what is the proportion of the registered number of unemployed who have been engaged in municipal enterprise?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe total number of workpeople whose insurance books or donation policies were lodged at Employment Exchanges at 11th February were 1,067,141 in respect of total unemployment, and 696,873 in respect of short time working. No figures are available to show the number who had been engaged in municipal enterprise, but the numbers who had been engaged in national and local Government service were 8,914 in respect of total unemployment, and 282 in respect of short time.
§ Mr. SWANAre the bulk of them men who were formerly engaged in munitions, that is, a national and not a municipal department, and can we therefore assume that the municipal work is more stable?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe increases I have given cover municipal work and Government work. I am afraid I have not had them analysed.
§ Major NALLIs it not a fact that persons employed under the conditions stated are not engaged on productive work?