§ 21. Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Labour if he can arrange for the statistics published monthly in the Labour Gazette showing the numbers of persons unemployed in each industry 412 to be modified, so as to show separately the numbers registered as belonging to the artificial silk industry and the number unemployed at the end of each month?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Betterton)The list of 100 industrial groups for which unemployment insurance figures are given monthly in the Ministry of Labour Gazette was adopted, after very careful consideration, as giving, within the permissible limits of labour and space, the most informative groupings which could in practice be made. The suggested further subdivision of the silk group would be inconsistent with the general principles adopted in making up the list, and apart from this would present such difficulties in practice as would make the resultant figures of doubtful value. I regret I cannot, for these reasons, accede to my hon. Friend's request.
§ Brigadier-General Sir HENRY CROFTCan the hon. Gentleman console the House with the hope that there is going to be no increase of unemployment in the silk trade?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI should hope not.
§ Mr. HARRISIs it not a fact that artificial silk is used in the cotton and woollen trade, and therefore the figures could not be separated?
§ Mr. BETTERTONAs I have already said, this group contains 100 groups all together, and was arrived at in 1923 after very careful consideration. My right hon. Friend, who has reconsidered the matter, has come to the conclusion that any further subdivision might be actually misleading.