§ 9. Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Labour if he can now state the number of persons who were insured against unemployment at the beginning of July, 1926?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland)The number of persons insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts in Great Britain at the beginning of July, 1926, is estimated to be 11,773,700. This figure includes 123,700 persons insured wider the special schemes for the banking and insurance industries.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSCould the right hon. Gentleman say whether that represents an increase or a decrease as compared with the previous year?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDSpeaking from memory, I think it is an increase, 1058 but in dealing with figures I like to verify them before I give a definite answer.