§ 68. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Minister of Labour haw many unemployed persons have received employment since His Majesty's Government came into office, as a direct consequence of any proposals introduced by the Government?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe only figures available are those of persons directly employed on works put in hand for the relief of unemployment with assistance from the Government. The numbers so employed on the 30th May last and the 25th October, 1924, were respectively 110,183 and 91,351. These figures take no account of the employment provided indirectly.
§ Mr. MORRISONAre we to take it that the figures given by the hon. Gentleman represent the men who have been employed as the direct result of schemes introducd by the present Government?
§ Mr. BETTERTONNo, the figures are to be taken as I have given them. As I understand them, the figures are the figures of persons who have obtained employment or were in employment on the date mentioned. As the hon. Member knows, some of these schemes go on from year to year, and, of course, it is impossible at a particular date to say which Government is responsible for them.
§ Brigadier-General Sir HENRY CROFTIs it not a fact that in all probability in the first six months of this year such workmen would be at work under schemes which were passed by the Government last year?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThere, again, I cannot be certain.