§ 37. Mr. J. HUDSONasked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in the chief coalfields in Great Britain on 1514 the 1st November last and at the present time?
§ Mr. BETTERTONAs the reply necessarily involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. HUDSONWill the hon. Gentleman give a general idea to the House as to whether there has been a very considerable increase in those figures?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI think the answer to that question will be found in the statement which I published in the OFFICIAL REPORT two days ago. It dealt not only with the coalfields but with a great many other trades.
§ Mr. HUDSONMay it be taken from the reply that there is a very considerable increase in the totals? Would the hon. Gentleman say what is the reason for this very serious increase in unemployment in this trade?
§ Mr. BETTERTONIt is common knowledge that the increase in the numbers is very considerable. With regard to the causes and the remedies, that is obviously a matter for debate.
§ Following are the figures promised:
§ STATEMENT showing the number of persons in the Coal Mining Industry insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts who were on the Registers of Employment Exchanges in the principal coalfields on 27th October, 1924, and 25th May, 1925.
| — | 27th October, 1924. | 25th May, 1925. |
| Northumberland | 11,809 | 16,693 |
| Durham | 28,178 | 38,353 |
| Cumberland and Westmorland. | 1,681 | 2,204 |
| Yorkshire | 6,250 | 10,301 |
| Lancashire and Cheshire | 6,775 | 18,433 |
| Notts and Leicester | 1,466 | 13,164 |
| Derby | 2,254 | 8,850 |
| Warwick | 247 | 191 |
| Staffs, Worcester and Salop. | 4,102 | 5,602 |
| Kent | 712 | 131 |
| Gloucester and Somerset. | 3,873 | 2,905 |
| Total—England | 67,788 | 117,305 |
| Scotland | 13,226 | 35,478 |
| Wales and Monmouth | 48,980 | 46,371 |
| Great Britain | 129,994 | 199,154 |
§ 57. Captain GUNSTONasked the Minister of Labour if he will give figures showing how much the present increase of unemployment, as compared with a year ago, is due to the numbers unemployed in the coal industry?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe number of persons insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts in Great Britain who were recorded as unemployed was 1,043,305 on 26th May, 1924, and 1,225,053 on 25th May, 1925, an increase of 181,748. In the same period, the number of persons in the coal mining industry who were recorded as unemployed rose from 38,052 to 199,154, an increase of 161,102. The increase over the period in all industries, excluding the coal industry, was, therefore, 20,646.
§ Mr. MACLEANIn view of the fact that during the period in which the Government have been in office unemployment has increased to such a large extent, will the Government now take into consideration that they have failed to govern this country and resign immediately?