29. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the Prime Minister if he will state the total number of persons who have been found employment, and for how long, by the various schemes for providing work for the unemployed which have been sanctioned under the several measures passed by Parliament in October last and started since that date; and will he say what further steps the Government propose to take to deal with the very large numbers of unemployed for whom no provision of work has yet been made and whose unemployed benefit under the Insurance Acts will shortly be exhausted?
109. Mr. L. MALONEasked the Minister of Labour what are the number of unemployed registered last week; what national schemes to provide work are now in operation; how many persons are employed on them; what further schemes are contemplated; and what numbers it is estimated that they will absorb?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Dr. Macnamara)The number of persons reported as employed in the week ending 27th January on works put in hand by the Government and local authorities to relieve unemployment was 126,000. This figure does not take account of employment provided in ancillary trades, nor of the effect of the Export Credits and Trade Facilities Act Schemes. The number of persons registered as wholly unemployed at the 31st January was 1,904,300. On the 24th January there were 280,000 registered as on short time. I am at present giving careful consideration to the position with regard to Unemployment Insurance Benefit.
Mr. THOMSONIn the absence of any other provision, will not the cost of unemployment fall on the industrial areas to a greater extent than before when the benefits under the Act expire?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMy hon. Friend is raising an argumentative question, as to which, I imagine, he will have full oppotunity this afternoon.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEHow many of the larger number quoted by the right hon. Gentleman are men and how many women?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI cannot say offhand, but I will send my hon. and gallant Friend the precise figures.