§ 17. Mr. HAYDAYasked the Minister of Labour how many persons of all ages there are employed in the auxiliary lace trades in Nottingham, and the numbers unemployed or on short time, respectively?
§ Mr. SHAWI regret that there is no information in the possession of the Ministry of Labour showing separately the number of persons employed or unemployed in the auxiliary lace trades in Nottingham.
§ Mr. BETTERTONHas the right hon. Gentleman made any calculation as to how many persons now unemployed in the lace trade would be employed if the recommendations of the Board of Trade Committee were carried out?
§ Brigadier-General Sir HENRY CROFTHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the demands of the trade unions, in this connection to give protection to the lace trades in Nottingham?
§ Mr. SHAWThe question of how many are unemployed in Nottingham has nothing to do with protection at all.
§ Mr. HAYDAYIn signing on at the Employment Exchange, is not the designation of the trade or occupation part of 408 the entry, and, if that be so, is it not possible to give the information which is asked for?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEIn order to determine the policy which should be pursued with regard to lace, ought the right hon. Gentleman not to find out the proportion of unemployed to employed?
§ Mr. SHAWThe proportion of unemployed to employed in the lace trade is well known, but the proportion in the different sections is not known.
§ Mr. BETTERTONIs the right hon. Gentleman prepared to receive a deputation representing those interested in all parts of the lace trade, and to get from them the information?
§ Mr. SHAWI am prepared to receive any deputation that can give me useful information, and I shall be glad to receive it.
§ 18. Mr. HAYDAYasked the Minister of Labour the number of lace out-workers resident in Nottingham who are not insured persons under the Unemployment Insurance Act; and how many of this number are totally or partially unemployed, respectively?
§ Mr. HAYDAYIs the Minister not aware that these statistics were taken out some time ago, and that a proposal was made to include the outworker in the Unemployment Insurance Act; and are not these statistics still available to show the number employed as outworkers in the lace industry?
§ Miss LAWRENCEHas the Minister consulted the local trade board on the question of the number and state of unemployment?
§ Mr. SHAWThe investigations that took place previously are no indication as to what is the actual position now, and we have no figures showing whether uninsured persons are employed or not.
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEAre we to understand that the Minister has turned down the unanimous recommendations of the Lace Committee without any further inquiry into the facts?
§ Mr. HAYDAYWill the right hon. Gentleman undertake to make such investigation to show the number of outworkers?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEWill the right hon. Gentleman answer my question?
§ Mr. SHAWThat question has no reference to the question on the Paper. If the right hon. Gentleman will put it on the Paper, he will receive an answer in the ordinary way.