HC Deb 12 May 1924 vol 173 cc907-8
71. Sir H. CROFT

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the number of persons employed in the manufacture of pianos in 1913, 1921 and 1922, respectively?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Miss Bondfield)

I have been asked to reply. The number of insured contributors under the Unemployment Insurance Acts recorded as engaged in the manufacture of musical instruments generally in Great Britain was approximately 20,240 at July, 1922, and 18,720 at July, 1921. No separate figures have been obtained relating to piano manufacture, as distinct from the manufacture of other musical instruments. The number given includes unemployed insured workpeople, but excludes certain classes of persons who are not insurable, for example, juveniles under 16 years of ago and non-manual workers whose rate of remuneration exceeds £250 per annum. No comparable totals are available for earlier years, but in 1911 the total number of persons (including employers and salaried officials, as well as manual workers) engaged in the piano and organ industries in England and Wales, as shown by the Census of Population of that year, was 16,628, and in 1921 the corresponding total was 16,491.

Mr. H. H. SPENCER

Is the hon. Member aware that the price of an English piano, which was £26 in 1913, is now £62?

Sir H. CROFT

Is there no definite information as to the number of pianos imported into this country in 1913?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

Is there any reason to suppose there is any large unemployment in the piano-making industry?

Miss BONDFIELD

There is no reason to suppose so

72. Sir H. CROFT

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the number of pianos imported from Germany in 1913, 1921 and 1922, respectively?

Mr. GRAHAM

I have been asked to reply. The number of pianos imported into the United Kingdom, and consigned from Germany in the years in question was:

Year. Number.
1913 … … … … 22,573
1921 … … … … 8,023
1922 … … … … 15,012

Sir H. CROFT

In spite of the answer to the previous question, is it not the actual fact that at least 10,000 more hands are being employed in the manufacture of pianos?

73. Sir H. CROFT

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of musical instruments imported in 1913, 1921 and 1922, respectively?

Mr. GRAHAM

I have been asked to reply. The total value of musical instruments and parts thereof imported into the United Kingdom in the years in question was:

Year. £
1913 … … … 1,178,806
1921 … … … 801,622
1922 … … … 1,059,591

Captain BRASS

Is consideration taken of the difference in the value of the £.

Mr. GRAHAM

I could not say, but I should think this is nominal value.

Mr. MITCHELL BANKS

Are the motors of gramophones included as parts of musical instruments?

Mr. GRAHAM

I could not say offhand.