§ 33. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Minister of Labour how the percentage of unemployment in this country compares with that in Holland and Switzerland respectively?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAt the end of January 16.8 per cent. of trade unionists in this country were returned as unemployed. The most recent percentage published for Holland as a whole relates to last October, and affords no index to the present position. In Amsterdam at 1258 the end of January some 24 per cent. of members of trade unions affiliated to the unemployment insurance fund in that city were reported to be out of work. In Switzerland it is not the practice to compute unemployment percentages, but in the very important watchmaking industry those registered as wholly out of work at the end of January represent about 41 per cent., there being in addition a considerable number working short time.