§ 56. Mr. CECIL WILSONasked the Minister of Labour whether he can state, for the years 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1924, 1518 the total number of persons making application for unemployment benefit, and the percentage of such applicants who were convicted of fraud?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe number of separate individuals who made application for benefit in the years mentioned is not accurately known, but was probably between three and 4½ millions in each year. The numbers of convictions for fraud in connection with benefit were 746, 1,570, 2,326 and 1,779 respectively in the four years.
§ Mr. WILSONCan we not have the figures of the percentages which were asked for some days ago, and promised?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThat involves a calculation which I endeavoured to work out. I was not very successful, but I will give the figures to the hon. Gentleman, and see if he can work them out.
§ Colonel DAYCan the hon. Gentleman tell us to what extent the Employment Exchanges were defrauded?
§ Mr. BETTERTONNo, not without notice.